How The Jewish Hat Varied From The 13th To The 15th Centuries

When it first appeared in the 13th century, the Jewish hat was an inverted

, cone-shaped head covering worn by Jewish men. The hat, generally white or yellow, was first worn by choice. The public display of faith by the Jewish hat was soon, however, met with regulation by the non-Jewish world, becoming a sign of discrimination and shame, much as the yellow badge also of that time (and later revived by the Nazis).

Wearers chose this way to display their recognition that God was over them in power and authority as Rabbi Abraham Shemtov expounds, We place the kipa (Jewish hat) on the very highest point of our being -- on our head, the vessel of our intellect -- to tell ourselves and the world that there is something which is above man's intellect -- the infinite Wisdom of God.

This custom so deeply impressed Jewish religious leaders that they made it one of their laws. That meant observant Jews had to cover their heads most of the time and definitely in public. This belief was reflected in their art. The hat was frequently illustrated in Jewish manuscripts. The hat also appeared in the Jewish calendar and the coat of arms. In fact, even historic Christian Jewish figures such as Saint Joseph and the Lord Jesus were depicted wearing the Jewish hat.

The public display of faith by the Jewish hat was soon, however, met with regulation by the non-Jewish world. Jews were not the only ones wearing hats, and their head coverings in some ways resembled the headgear of opposing faiths, namely, Muslim and Christian, which led to some confusion. So religious governments intervened.

In the Muslim world the state leaders (called caliphs) ordered the dhimmis (or non-Muslims) to wear head coverings that stood out. Usually this meant the Jewish hat was bright, but it depended on the caliph. Take caliph al Mutawakkil in 850, for instance. He required all non-Muslims (Jews and Christians) to wear a headscarf called a taylasin. Then in the 16th century the caliphate of the Maghreb (5 North African countries) ordered Jewish men to distinguish themselves by wearing black turbans.

Europe went garb compulsory at the Fourth Lateran Council, convened by Pope Innocent III. He ordered non-Christians (Jews and Muslims) to distinguish themselves for marriage purposes. He claimed authority from Mosaic law based on Leviticus 19:19 and Deuteronomy 22:5 and 11. A yellow cloth star-shaped patch was required through the Middle Ages and later revived by the Nazis as a badge of shame.

Understandably, Jews did not like this intrusion into their faith. It was their law, and they wanted to choose the type of hat they so desired not out of discrimination and shame for their belief but out of a joy for the duty that was set before them.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the Jewish hat took many forms. In the 13th century, it took the form of the soft felt Phrygian cap. This cap was a floppy, pointy felt cap with a round circular brim. It varied in size. And sometimes by the 14th century displayed a bell or bobble at the tip. The hat later became flatter and more rounded.

And by the 15th century the Jewish hat became quite exotic, featuring a wide, spread out brim, often with flares in Eastern Europe. They were even berets and loose turbans. Jewish art reflects this trend up to the 18th century.

by: JB Matt

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