This is an extremely touching and moving video of Jerusalem. This video masterfully illustrates what thousands of Soldiers have given up their lives to defend....
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Day 15 - McCain's Misplaced Kippah
There is a picture on Yeshiva World News of Presidential-hopeful Senator John McCain on his most recent visit to the kotel, or Western Wall. Now, the mere fact that Senator McCain took the time to visit one of the world’s holiest sites is admirable. I do not believe, as many claim, that his visit should be viewed as being nothing more than part of a well devised plan aimed at attracting Jewish voters, especially considering that McCain is himself a religious man. Indeed, according to this article, Senator McCain, while neither a “born-again” Christian nor a baptized one, has been for many years attending the North Phoenix Baptist Church in Arizona. Additionally, Senator McCain, on more than one occasion, has expressed his profound belief in God. As such, I believe his visit to be one of sincerity and not publicity.
Nonetheless, looking at this picture angers me; the reason, of course, is that he is wearing a kippah, or "skullcap." Now, one might question the actual harm caused by his kippah wearing. Indeed, one might ask both what the problem is and what all the fuss is about. One could opine, after all, that Senator McCain’s kippah donning does nothing more than display his respect for the Jewish people and their sacred sites.
Ok - I’ll tell you what the fuss is about; I’ll tell you why him wearing a kippah bothers me. Simply because: HE IS NOT JEWISH. Now to those who will shout at me, insisting that plenty of religious gentiles wear head coverings – you’re absolutely correct; many, in fact, do. But last I checked, Senator McCain is not one of those people; he is not someone who routinely displays his constant cognition of God. Such a fact does not, of course, in any way make him "less" of a person; to say so would be not only ludicrous but elitestly chauvinistic as well. Nonetheless, it is a reality, and I would, in fact, very much bet that he does not wear a head covering while attending church. So, if indeed his status quo is to leave his head uncovered – why digress now? Why now should he cover his head while visiting the kotel, regardless of the sanctity of the location? (Which is a separate issue in itself – but let’s assume, for argument’s sake, that the kotel complex does have sanctity.)
The source for wearing a kippah has been mentioned on this blog before. Its source is the gemara, or Talmud, in Kiddushin 31a, which says that the purpose of wearing a kippah is to keep ourselves cognizant of God at all times. Now, if Senator McCain has decided to add this (admittedly beautiful) kippah to his daily dress code then I would have no problem with him wearing it whatsoever; after all, one does not need to be Jewish in order to wear a kippah and show cognition of God. But that is not the case here. Senator McCain has not suddenly decided to complement his current mode of dress.
Rather, this situation reeks of the forcification (yes, I just coined that word) of Jewish standards on other people. And while I admittedly do not know whether he was asked to wear this kippah by some representative Jew (similar to when those bishops visited the kotel last November – they were asked to either remove or cover their crosses by the kotel Rav; indeed, his trip would have been undoubtedly planned in advance and well publicized) or if he simply decided to act on his own and make a kind gesture, I nonetheless find the act repulsive and unnecessary. He is not Jewish and therefore needs not wear a kippah. It’s that simple. There are no two ways about it.
Before concluding I would like to make it inescapably clear that I do not fault Senator McCain for anything here – please do not get that impression. What bothers me is the fact that he somehow found it seemingly necessary to wear a kippah at the kotel. Why? Was he pressured into doing so? I suspect so, even if the pressure was subliminal at best. Thus, when it comes down to it, him wearing a kippah was a response to a need, a response to a (subliminal) request. Why else do it? Why else adopt foreign, unnecessary standards? After all, how does placing a kippah on one's head change anything? Or, in other words, what would doing so accomplish for Senator McCain?
Nonetheless, looking at this picture angers me; the reason, of course, is that he is wearing a kippah, or "skullcap." Now, one might question the actual harm caused by his kippah wearing. Indeed, one might ask both what the problem is and what all the fuss is about. One could opine, after all, that Senator McCain’s kippah donning does nothing more than display his respect for the Jewish people and their sacred sites.
Ok - I’ll tell you what the fuss is about; I’ll tell you why him wearing a kippah bothers me. Simply because: HE IS NOT JEWISH. Now to those who will shout at me, insisting that plenty of religious gentiles wear head coverings – you’re absolutely correct; many, in fact, do. But last I checked, Senator McCain is not one of those people; he is not someone who routinely displays his constant cognition of God. Such a fact does not, of course, in any way make him "less" of a person; to say so would be not only ludicrous but elitestly chauvinistic as well. Nonetheless, it is a reality, and I would, in fact, very much bet that he does not wear a head covering while attending church. So, if indeed his status quo is to leave his head uncovered – why digress now? Why now should he cover his head while visiting the kotel, regardless of the sanctity of the location? (Which is a separate issue in itself – but let’s assume, for argument’s sake, that the kotel complex does have sanctity.)
The source for wearing a kippah has been mentioned on this blog before. Its source is the gemara, or Talmud, in Kiddushin 31a, which says that the purpose of wearing a kippah is to keep ourselves cognizant of God at all times. Now, if Senator McCain has decided to add this (admittedly beautiful) kippah to his daily dress code then I would have no problem with him wearing it whatsoever; after all, one does not need to be Jewish in order to wear a kippah and show cognition of God. But that is not the case here. Senator McCain has not suddenly decided to complement his current mode of dress.
Rather, this situation reeks of the forcification (yes, I just coined that word) of Jewish standards on other people. And while I admittedly do not know whether he was asked to wear this kippah by some representative Jew (similar to when those bishops visited the kotel last November – they were asked to either remove or cover their crosses by the kotel Rav; indeed, his trip would have been undoubtedly planned in advance and well publicized) or if he simply decided to act on his own and make a kind gesture, I nonetheless find the act repulsive and unnecessary. He is not Jewish and therefore needs not wear a kippah. It’s that simple. There are no two ways about it.
Before concluding I would like to make it inescapably clear that I do not fault Senator McCain for anything here – please do not get that impression. What bothers me is the fact that he somehow found it seemingly necessary to wear a kippah at the kotel. Why? Was he pressured into doing so? I suspect so, even if the pressure was subliminal at best. Thus, when it comes down to it, him wearing a kippah was a response to a need, a response to a (subliminal) request. Why else do it? Why else adopt foreign, unnecessary standards? After all, how does placing a kippah on one's head change anything? Or, in other words, what would doing so accomplish for Senator McCain?
In truth, people can dress however they damn well please - I really couldn't care less about what floats peoples' rubber ducks. But I do care about why they do it - if dressing a certain way makes one happy, then great; go ahead. Dress like Austin Powers and walk around asking people if you make them randy all you want. But if you dress like Austin Powers only because others expect you to then something has gone awry.
Guys and gals - kippahs are "mandated" for Jews, not for anyone who simply happens to be visiting our places of worship. Deal with it - enough with the insecurity! What does asking other people to conform to our standards accomplish besides our own ego-boosting?
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