11 Comments
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alexis's avatar

beautiful article and a wonderful example for religious jews in israel . Hope we can address the problem you raised about the hasidic sects who refuse to serve . need to

think how to fight them.

Charles Hall's avatar

We don’t want to fight them; we don’t want them to separate themselves from the Jewish people as they are doing today. It is a violation of a negative commandment in Avot 2 (attributed to Hillel!) that many congregations, just read last Shabbat!

alexis's avatar

they already have separated themselves and refuse to join . so we need ot fight them. not a negative commandment under thedse circumstances

Dovid Dov's avatar

I loved the article and salute both of your wonderful daughters.

I am surprised that you, a Brit, could write "surprised my wife and 'I'". How can you expect correct English from those of us in the colonies?

Kol tuv,

DS

Charles Hall's avatar

The distinction between nominative and objective case in English has been disappearing for many years. The commonly used “It is me.” is the best example of this. “It is I.” is correct usage, but who used that in informal settings today? My maternal grandfather, an English teacher, was horrified. But English, unlike almost every other important world language, has no regulatory authority.

Alan Aronoff's avatar

To be precise, there weren't/aren't size specifications for a Kippa. (However, by 1962, when I began secular university study, over at YU, the question of "Coke Bottle Caps" emerged. Kippot in the American public are associated with 1967; the conflation of the 6 Day War and the Black Liberation Movement. However, Skirt Specifications ARE explicit, inter alia, in Orach Chaim 75 and Even HaEzer 22. (Verify on your Sefaria App.) Therefore, I fully stand by my contention that the skirt, a דבר המצווה, speaks louder than a Kippa, a דבר שאינו מצווה, which specifications in Orach Chaim 2:6 regard when, where, but not how large. In 1962, I verified those specifications.

Alan Aronoff's avatar

An added comment. In 1999, after a winter business meeting in the District, I was looking for a Kosher meal at the GWU Hillel. Had to ask a student for directions, was pre-Waze. I saw no Kippot, but asked the 1st young lady not in pants. Immediate directions. EOT.

Alan Aronoff's avatar

I find this discussion difficult. בזמנינו, there's 2 issues that should not need further discussion. The 1st is Midrasha with a full Talmud program for young women. The 2nd is that a "dosit" should do the Army, with her skirt. Let's face it: Those of us דתי לאומי who werducated in an American secular university, and worked professionally in American secular society, have learned to project our Orthodox Judaism. Furthermore, young woman in a skirt, whether at the University and/or the Kirya, projects דתיות, (or dosit) far louder than a Bennett sized Kippa.

Gili Houpt's avatar

I missed the section in the Torah that discusses the minimum size of a kippah. Which masechet in shas elaborates the shiurim? Or is it specified somewhere in the Rambam? Shulchan Aruch?

Charles Hall's avatar

I know lots of frum Jews who wear kippot similar to Bennett — it has been a particularly popular style among Yeshiva University students.