Mivtza Kippa: An alteneu method for Jews to be standed and counted

They recognise the yarmulke, do you hide yours?

Like many, I am debating the War with Hamas, on a number of social media. People who were very friendly have emerged as virulently anti-Israel even when logical analysis would suggest that there is no solution different from that employed by the Israel Defence Forces, each soldier of which is involved in an enormous Mitzvah 24/7.

How many of us come near them? My interlocutors aren’t stupid. They are highly intelligent. Most are ex-PhD students and Masters alumni . The common thread  is that they are mainly people with a Muslim background, or in the case of Persians (Iranians often call themselves Persians because they are secular and are embarrassed by the ayatollahs) have a loose affiliation with Islam though they feel it has destroyed their own country. Yet, that which unites them is an unquestionable pathological wish to sink a mortal boot into the high Jewish Morality at each opportunity.

I’ve indicated that the City of Medina was actually a Jewish City before Mohammed and his violent hoards forcefully evicted Jews. As such, should Medina be classified as occupied territory? When does a city morph into a state of occupation and when is an entity born?

Many Arabs and Muslims are oblivious to what resides under the Dome of the Mosque. Some have used the argument that the Canaanites were there before Jews to which I responded that the Canaanites do not exist. In considering existence, I seek clarification of the ‘age’ of Jordan, and its own rights as some independent entity. This is met with silence reminiscence when I refer to Black September.

I had one unsavoury creäture, dare to splash Hitler’s façade into the conversation, with a call to finish off what Hitler did not do.

I and many others happen to believe that this is ultimately a religious war. It’s territorial, but only in the context of an Islāmic imperative to find the Jew behind the stone and kill him.

Apart from engaging in polemics (and sometimes I feel that the only result is that my blood pressure goes up and I achieve nothing) what can we in the Diaspora do?

We get together for an evening of prayer. Some, like Elwood Shule had an emergency appeal which raised 7K. Others prefer a rally of sorts in solidarity. Others will perform a crowd dance in the City.

I note, in passing that many Charedi Yeshivos will not close after Tisha B’Av as is customary. I’d like to see them all use this time to be involved in helping the people of the South whose גאון יעקב has been psychologically apprehended. I mean help them בגשמיות, Reader MD pointed out that Yeshivot Hesder are in full swing and have been conscripted to aid. Who better than legendary Tankistim burning with love of the people, land and Torah to enter the fray.

It’s so relatively easy for the rest of us in the Diaspora.

Beneath the polemic and news commentary there is a latent anti-Semitism. I have seen people try to counter protest with flags of Israel, but there is much more to this conflagration than the Jewish homeland. Jews themselves are in danger, all around the world.

Based on the above, I’d like to call for a new initiative. I will call it Mivtza Kippa. In my opinion, it’s time that each and every male, whatever their level of religiosity may or may not be, decided to not be ashamed to proclaim that they are a Jew and to specifically make such a statement at a moment like this in our history. If you lose one client because of this or are mistreated, then sue. If you are attacked, then show the world it’s because you are a Jew. It is JEWS who are hated. It is their morality and leadership in a corrupt world that is under threat. Even a leftist atheist should wear one in the street, and at work,  and show that after World War 2, this is our new yellow Magen David, only now we are showing the world, and I mean the entire world, that Jews don’t cower. We wear it with pride. We don’t hide. We aren’t defined by our nose or our surnames ending in “stein” or “ofski” and similar.

Do you have the guts to put a Kippa on now, during our time of extreme distress? If not now, when? They try to separate Zionists from Jews. We are all Zionists. A Zionist is a Jew. Even if you are a Satmar type, you are a Zionist. You pray for a return 3 times a day. You may not understand or like God’s planned method through a secular government, but it stares at you and is a living Psak.

A group of Jewish lawyers should band together and at no cost to deal with each and every incident of anti-Semitism that will erupt once the hatred exudes at the sight of  the red rag of a Kippa.

It’s time we were visibly Jews and proud and not exhibiting fear.

We hear stories of soldiers having near death encounters, feeling they were saved by an external being which they call God. I don’t care whether you believe or not. Have as much guts as the soldiers and I challenge you to take on wearing a yarmulke/kippa. Let the Jewish shops sell them at a reduced price for this important Mivtza.

We need to show them all up for what they are: Anti Semites.

If you agree with my initiative, please pass this message on to as many as you can, especially those in other countries. Let the word spread. Let’s have a mass movement around the world where Jews EMERGE and show they are not only here, but here to stay, and we aren’t going to take hate any longer.

Yes, place a target on your head, and let them come at you. Prosecute them and put them away.

My children came home from somewhere with bracelets of support. We don’t need new methods to advertise our support for Israel. It is ant-Judaism which is behind this scourge.

Our support stems from the fact that we are Jews. Encourage the youth of today to have the guts and determination to wear a Yarmulka. Let every anti-Semite emerge from their hole and become completely visible.

Should a non-Jew wear a Yarmulke?

Back in the days when I began the musical element of my life, I was bemused to see the primarily non-Jewish bands, such as the Los Latinos or Volares respectfully wearing brightly coloured silk yarmulkes. In those days, the façade of the נכרי singing יבריכך ה’ מציון wasn’t complete unless the cap fit and he wore it. Most likely, the haute couture generated supplementary mirth at an already happy and refreshed שמחה. The boldy-coloured yarmulkes, perched precariously on thick, black, amply lubricated and coiffured Italian scalps were not solely the respectful masquerade of a musician. The non-Jewish videographer or photographer,  (if Mr Cylich or Herbert Leder weren’t available) also donned the Jewish millinery uniform.

Schnapps’ keyboard player, Peter, is one of the חסידי אומות העולם. A respectful and sensitive man,  Peter initially asked whether he was required to wear a Kippa. I quickly responded in the negative, and ensured that the other band members knew there was no expectation whatsoever that they do so. In the words of my percussionist, also named Peter, “We are just a pack of goyim anyway”.

Back then, in my young and lest restless years, I felt it was critical not to encourage the portrayal of a misleading repose. I didn’t want to be responsible for a single person being misled by an exterior גניבת דעת. That was then. Today, regrettably, many Jews choose not to wear one even when these are provided by בעלי שמחה as part of a theme or memento.

I fondly recall my old friend Mr Yisrael Tuvia Blass ז’ל posing the question (in Yiddish) “Why is Yom HaKipurim considered like Purim?” His answer was “on Purim, Yidden masquerade as goyim (e.g. Haman) and on Yom Hakipurim, “goyim” masquerade as Yidden. (It sounds even better in Mame Loshen).

Should non-Jewish teachers be required to wear them at Jewish Schools? This question arose several years ago in the USA and was posed to three leading Rabbis of their generation: the Rav ז’ל, R’ Moshe Feinstein ז’ל and R’ Aaron Kotler ז’ל. The Rav responded with a simple “no” (the Rav had a policy of not providing the reasons for a Psak). R’ Moshe answered that “he should do as everyone does”. In other words, the non-Jewish teacher should wear a yarmulke. R’ Aaron Kotler answered that the non-Jew should not wear a Yarmulke. Explaining his Psak, R’ Aaron opined that the idea of והבדלתם, that a Jew should be separate, extends to the notion that a non-Jew should not be encouraged to adopt Jewish customs and, therefore, בדווקא, the teacher should not don a Yarmulke.

I read this on שבת in R’ Hershel Schachter’s דברי הרב, and it rang true to me, justifying the position I took with Schnapps, so many years ago.

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