My name is Kyle, and I'm a 16 year old boy. I recently received a letter from the Pope in response to a question I had about my Grandmother. In this response, the Pope included a picture of himself. I found myself wondering why a Catholic person would wear a Yamaca. Isn't that a Jewish Tradition? I would appreciate a prompt reply because I feel like the answer would provide good subject material at my Grandmother's funeral. Sometimes small-talk can be exhausting with relatives.
2006-12-29 06:10:03 · 11 answers · asked by Kyle 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Pope is not Jewish. The correct word for the Pope's skullcap is a zucchetto, which is an Italian word that basically means "beanie." Zucchettos are color-coded skullcaps worn by Catholic clergy: priests wear black, bishops wear purple, cardinals wear red, and the Pope wears white.
The Jewish practice of covering the head dates back to ancient times when the kohanim in the Temple wore special headdresses.
The morning blessing "oter Yisrael betifara – who crowns Israel with beauty," was originally said before putting on the turban. The Talmud states that a man should not take four steps without his head being covered. We can keep our heads covered by wearing any sort of hat or turban. One choice is the kippa, which in Yiddish is called Yarmulke, in English, skullcap, or in Italian Zucchetto. The kippa has no religious significance in and of itself — it is merely one type of hat. It is nothing more than a beanie.
Today, we follow a moderate path and make a point to keep our heads covered during prayer, study, meals and other religious acts, such as playing baseball.
Although he wears a kippa, the Pope is not Jewish. And although we wear Zucchettos, we are not the Pope. Once again we see that you don't have to be Jewish to be Jewish, but it helps.
2006-12-29 06:22:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not a Yamaca. It is a skull cap (I think that there is a proper term, but I can't think of it.) Monks used to wear these because the tops of their heads would be shaved to symbolize their minds' openess to God wisdom, but anyway they would wear these to keep thier heads from getting sunburned. I am not sure why it is proper to the pope's apparel, but I know that most abbots (and some priests) wear black ones, bishops (and some monsignors) wear purple ones, cardinals wear red ones, and the pope wears a white one.
(Oh, now I see Countessa has it right.)
2006-12-29 06:18:36 · answer #2 · answered by Maurus B. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Catholicism grew out of Judaism, many Jewish religious practices were adopted in our liturgy. There are others. We also purify ourselves with holy water before we enter the sanctuary. Our mass is the equivalent of your sacrificial offering. The only difference is we are offering Jesus Christ as a sacrifice through the bread and wine we offer. We believe that the bread we eat and the wine we drink is truly the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
2006-12-29 06:41:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its called a yamaka. The skullcap worn by the Catholic clergy is called a zucchetto.
All Catholic clergy are entitled to wear the zucchetto.
+ The Pope's zucchetto is white
+ Cardinals' are red
+ Bishops' are violet
+ Priests' and deacons' are black
Some think that zucchettos go back to when clerics shaved the center of their heads into a tonsure. Zucchettos would help keep their heads warm
2006-12-29 06:15:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It isn't a yamuka...
In the bible it refers to the fact that you will come before God decent and covered... when you see women making pilgrimages to Vatican City or when they see the pope in person, their head is always covered. The pope does the same thing. It is a sign of respect and humbleness to God.
2006-12-29 06:14:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
because Christianity is a continuation of the Jewish faith. Jesus came as the Jewish Messiah ( Christ) and those who believed in him became known as Christians but the first were all Jews Jesus was a Jew.
2006-12-29 06:15:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For many it is a sign of humility.
Like bowing the head.
Accepting one is lowly before God.
2006-12-29 06:14:12 · answer #7 · answered by Uncle Thesis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am catholic. and Jesus is catholic and jewish tooo. i think thats why he wears a Yamaca.
2006-12-29 06:13:17 · answer #8 · answered by Julie 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
MAYBE YOU DIDN'T NOTICE THE BIBLE HAS OLD TESTAMENT & NEW. CHRISTIANS STUDY BOTH, JEWS STOP AT NEW. IT'S VERY INTERTWANGULATED ( I HAD TO USE MY JUVINILE TEENNAGED BRAIN, WHATS LEFT OF IT, TO INVENT THAT WORD)!
2006-12-29 06:16:19 · answer #9 · answered by Bonno 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
this new pop is a pimp!(not literally) look at his shoes, his car, and his watch!
2006-12-29 06:13:45 · answer #10 · answered by Sean 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋