Click on above image to view full picture
Silk Bijoux, which means Silk Jewels in French, was born from the love and enthusiasm that Jan and Nicole had for silk painting. At the beginning of 1988, these artists brought their special talents and multicultural backgrounds together to create a unique experience in wearable art to stores throughout the United States and the world.
A kippah (plural: kippot), or yarmulke is a thin, slightly-rounded skullcap traditionally worn at all times by observant Jewish men, and sometimes by both men and women in Conservative and Reform communities. Its use is associated with demonstrating respect and reverence for G-d..
There are different proposed etymologies for the word yarmulke. According to most mainstream etymologists, it is a Yiddish word deriving from the Polish word jarmu'ka, meaning "cap". A folk etymology proposes that it is derived from an Aramaic phrase, yarei malka, meaning "fear of the King [i.e. G-d]," or from the Hebrew, ya'arei me'Elokai, "those who tremble before the Lord." The Hebrew-language equivalent, kippah actually means "dome", same as Arabic Qubbah..
The sources for wearing a kippah are found in the Talmud. In Shabbat 156b it states: "Cover your head in order that the fear of heaven may be upon you." In Kiddushin 31a it states, "Rabbi Honah ben Joshua never walked 4 cubits (2 meters) with his head uncovered. He explained: 'Because the Divine Presence is always over my head." As to the obligation of wearing a kippah, halakhic experts agree that it is a minhag (custom). The prevailing view among Rabbinical authorities is that this custom has taken on a kind of force of law because it is an act of Kiddush Hashem. From a strictly Talmudic point of view, however, the only moment when a Jewish man is required to cover his head is during prayer.
The kippah is traditionally worn by Jewish men. Today, some Reform and Conservative women wear a kippah. Some Jews wear kippot only while praying, eating, reciting a blessing, or studying Jewish religious texts. In modern contexts, it is also common for non-religious Jews or even non-Jews to wear a simple Kippah, or to cover their heads as a sign of respect, when present at Jewish religious services or at Jewish sites, such as Yad Vashem and the Western Wall. Male Jews and non-Jews alike are asked to don a skullcap in the vicinity of the Western Wall, and returnable skullcaps are provided for this use. Any form of head covering is acceptable according to halakha (Jewish law). There are no hard and fast rules on the subject, although the compact, lightweight nature of a kippah, along with the fact that hats for men have fallen out of fashion in the West over last few decades, may have contributed to its popularity.
Kippot have become identified as a symbol of Judaism over the last century. Haredi men, who mostly wear large black cloth or velvet kippot, often wear fedoras with their kippot underneath. In the Hasidic community, this double head-covering has Kabbalistic meaning. Often the color and fabric of the kippah can be a sign of adherence to a specific religious movement. The Israeli Religious Zionist community is often referred to by the name kippot serugot, literally "knitted kippot," though they are typically crocheted. American Modern Orthodox Jews often wear suede or leather kippot which require clips to hold them in place. Members of most Haredi groups usually wear black velvet or cloth kippot. Because of this, men who wear these kippot are sometimes referred to as kipot shekhorot, literally "black kippot". In addition, in general, the larger the kippa, the more right-wing politically and the more observant the wearer is.
There are different proposed etymologies for the word yarmulke. According to most mainstream etymologists, it is a Yiddish word deriving from the Polish word jarmu'ka, meaning "cap". A folk etymology proposes that it is derived from an Aramaic phrase, yarei malka, meaning "fear of the King [i.e. G-d]," or from the Hebrew, ya'arei me'Elokai, "those who tremble before the Lord." The Hebrew-language equivalent, kippah actually means "dome", same as Arabic Qubbah..
The sources for wearing a kippah are found in the Talmud. In Shabbat 156b it states: "Cover your head in order that the fear of heaven may be upon you." In Kiddushin 31a it states, "Rabbi Honah ben Joshua never walked 4 cubits (2 meters) with his head uncovered. He explained: 'Because the Divine Presence is always over my head." As to the obligation of wearing a kippah, halakhic experts agree that it is a minhag (custom). The prevailing view among Rabbinical authorities is that this custom has taken on a kind of force of law because it is an act of Kiddush Hashem. From a strictly Talmudic point of view, however, the only moment when a Jewish man is required to cover his head is during prayer.
The kippah is traditionally worn by Jewish men. Today, some Reform and Conservative women wear a kippah. Some Jews wear kippot only while praying, eating, reciting a blessing, or studying Jewish religious texts. In modern contexts, it is also common for non-religious Jews or even non-Jews to wear a simple Kippah, or to cover their heads as a sign of respect, when present at Jewish religious services or at Jewish sites, such as Yad Vashem and the Western Wall. Male Jews and non-Jews alike are asked to don a skullcap in the vicinity of the Western Wall, and returnable skullcaps are provided for this use. Any form of head covering is acceptable according to halakha (Jewish law). There are no hard and fast rules on the subject, although the compact, lightweight nature of a kippah, along with the fact that hats for men have fallen out of fashion in the West over last few decades, may have contributed to its popularity.
Kippot have become identified as a symbol of Judaism over the last century. Haredi men, who mostly wear large black cloth or velvet kippot, often wear fedoras with their kippot underneath. In the Hasidic community, this double head-covering has Kabbalistic meaning. Often the color and fabric of the kippah can be a sign of adherence to a specific religious movement. The Israeli Religious Zionist community is often referred to by the name kippot serugot, literally "knitted kippot," though they are typically crocheted. American Modern Orthodox Jews often wear suede or leather kippot which require clips to hold them in place. Members of most Haredi groups usually wear black velvet or cloth kippot. Because of this, men who wear these kippot are sometimes referred to as kipot shekhorot, literally "black kippot". In addition, in general, the larger the kippa, the more right-wing politically and the more observant the wearer is.
