That being said, I'm visiting Jerusalem early next month, I leave 3rd September (In time for Rosh Hashanah in Israel!) Jews comprise 3% of the worlds population. The kippah is between man and God. This is a modern day invention and has nothing to do with biblical practices. Its name comes from Italian zucchetta, the diminutive of zucca - gourd or, by extension, head. Let's start with rabbis. Now it is just tradition and only the higher clergy wear it. It is seen as a polite gesture, but it is certainly not expected or required. See: K apala Saturn hat Wailing wall Fish head Israel control of UK government Israel control of USA government One is usually provided if you don’t have one. In Reform Judaism, we understand this concept of participating in traditions and rituals that are meaningful to us and by-passing on others as “informed choice.” Wearing a yarmulke is one example of how informed choice can guide our Jewish identity and bring meaning to our lives. If the kippah is a distraction to the world around us, lose it in public. Askmoses.com serves as an educational website offering general Jewish education, and we can’t make specific Halachic rulings. Generally speaking, Orthodox Jewish women do not wear a kippah, since the Orthodox leadership has deemed that the kippah (and tallit, the fringed prayer shawl) are “men's clothing”, and Jewish law prohibits cross dressing. The Pope wears white, I think bishops wear purple, and cardinals wear red. It is a traditional hold-over from the days of the "tonsure" when it was worn to keep the head warm. It is not a "yarmulke!" Also, eating non-kosher food while wearing one, gives the impression that Orthodox Jews eat non-kosher food. and was wondering, as a non Jew would it be deemed offensive to wear a yarmulke when in and around Israel? I wear my yarmulke in synagogue. It can be worn by any member of the Roman Catholic clergy and the color indicates the clerics rank in the Catholic hierarchy. Well, in this case, form does not follow function. Knitted or crocheted kippot, known as kippot serugot, are usually worn by Religious Zionists and the Modern Orthodox, who also wear suede or leather kippot. Men should wear a dark yarmulke (kippah) in the synagogue and at the gravesite. Conversely, some yarmulkes come in sports team colors or even cartoon characters. It can be worn by any member of the Roman Catholic clergy and the color indicates the clerics rank in the Catholic hierarchy. It can be offensive, for example, if on Saturday you are wearing it while driving in a taxi or your rental car . Honestly, I'd love to wear one already but due to a certain community in my area in which the Boycott Divestment Sanctions Campaign is strong I wouldn't feel safe.