“It’s a Courageous Thing to Do”
At a Glance
Language
English — USSubject
- History
- Social Studies
- Culture & Identity
A student reflects on why it takes courage to wear a yarmulke or kippah:
When I was in high school one of my friends was wearing a yarmulke, and he was in the gym locker room and someone just grabbed it off his head and ran. In high school, teenagers are immature, ignorant, whatever.
I admire people who wear yarmulkes publicly. It’s a courageous thing to do. Wearing it is a way for someone to say, “I’m a Jew.” It’s the biggest symbol. People who wear yarmulkes are generally more observant. For some kids who grow up in observant households, since day one they wear a kippah. But for a small minority out there, it’s something they do as a way of showing Jewish pride. I have friends who used to not wear them, and in their teenage years they said, “This is something I want to do.” It’s tough for someone to make that jump.
I have a friend who used to go around wearing a baseball cap. You can wear a baseball cap—that counts as a yarmulke. Then he said, “You know what? I’m Jewish. I’m proud to be Jewish.” So now he wears a kippah.
Especially if you’re in a public forum, wearing a kippah requires a lot of courage, and you have to have a lot of pride in your religion. Some people in the business or professional worlds won’t wear a kippah, because, unfortunately, a bit of anti-Semitism and prejudice exist there. . . . For some people in the professional world, it changes the way that people think of them, and perceptions are important.
Every once in a while, I think, “Maybe I should do it.” I think I’ve ultimately never had the courage. The reason it’s difficult, at least for myself in a tolerant community like this one, is that there’s the fear—you don’t want to stick out. But also, I’m satisfied with the level of my observance right now. Wearing a kippah is not the only way of making a statement of Jewish pride. 1
Connection Questions
- Why does the speaker regard the decision to wear a kippah as “courageous”?
- Why is he reluctant to make that decision?
- Do you ever worry about walking down the street and being recognizably Jewish?
- What particular challenges does an American with a strong Jewish identity face?
- What struggles do you have with being an American with a Jewish identity in the context of antisemitic events such as happened this weekend?
- As an American Jew, what can you do to fight this type of hatred and bigotry?
- 1“It Takes a Lot of Courage to Wear a Kippah,” in Pearl Gaskins, I Believe In…: Christian, Jewish and Muslim Young People Speak About Their Faith (Chicago: Cricket Books, 2004), 12–13.
How to Cite This Reading
Facing History & Ourselves, “It’s a Courageous Thing to Do ,” last updated January 17, 2022.
This reading contains text not authored by Facing History & Ourselves. See footnotes for source information.