You've probably seen them at weddings, in movies, or just walking down a busy street in New York or Jerusalem. Small, circular caps perched right on the crown of the head. Or maybe those large, furry hats that look like something out of a historical epic. People often ask, "What are the hats called that the Jewish wear?" and honestly, the answer depends entirely on who you’re looking at and where they come from. It isn't just one hat. It's an entire visual language of identity, history, and deeply held religious conviction.
Jewish headcoverings serve as a constant reminder of a higher power. It's about humility. By covering the head, a person acknowledges that there is something—God—above them.
The Most Famous One: The Kippah or Yarmulke
Most of the time, when people ask about Jewish headwear, they are talking about the kippah. In Yiddish, it's called a yarmulke. There's a common folk etymology that "yarmulke" comes from the Aramaic words yira malka, meaning "fear of the King," referring to God. Whether that's linguistically perfect or not, it's how many people internalize the meaning.
Kippahs aren't all the same. Not even close. You can actually tell a lot about a person’s political or religious leanings just by the fabric on their head.
For instance, a knitted kippah (kippah serugah) usually signals someone is Modern Orthodox or Religious Zionist. They’re often colorful, sometimes handmade, and held on with a classic metal hair clip. On the flip side, a smooth black velvet kippah is the standard for the Haredi, or Ultra-Orthodox, community. Then you have the suede ones, which you’ll see on everyone from Reform Jews to occasional synagogue-goers. It’s a spectrum. A whole world of social cues sitting right on top of someone's hair.
The Big Furry Hats: What’s a Shtreimel?
If you’ve ever walked through Mea Shearim in Jerusalem or Williamsburg in Brooklyn on a Saturday, you’ve seen the Shtreimel. It is unmistakable. It’s a large, circular hat made of real fur—usually sable or fox tails.
Why fur? Why so big?
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It dates back to Eastern Europe. Hundreds of years ago, the nobility wore fur hats. Legend has it that Jews were once forced to wear animal tails as a mark of shame, so they turned that decree on its head (literally) and transformed it into a crown of honor for the Sabbath. Today, a high-quality shtreimel can cost thousands of dollars. It’s an investment. It’s worn only on Shabbat, Jewish holidays, and weddings.
There are variations, too. The Spodik is similar but taller and thinner, favored by certain Hasidic dynasties like the Gerrer Hasidim. To the untrained eye, they look the same. To someone in the community, the difference is as clear as a baseball cap versus a fedora.
The Black Fedora and the Homburg
You’ll see many Orthodox men wearing what looks like a standard "Men in Black" style hat. This is usually a fedora or a Homburg.
In many Yeshiva (traditional school) circles, the black hat is the daily uniform. It’s worn over the kippah when the man is out in public or praying. It represents a sense of "Shabbos dignity" even during the week. It’s formal. It’s serious. It says, "I am a person of Torah."
Interestingly, the style of the pinch in the hat or the width of the brim can tell you which specific school of thought the wearer follows. Some prefer a "down-brim" while others keep it flat. It’s a subtle world of fashion that has remained remarkably consistent since the early 20th century.
Sudra: The Ancient Jewish Headdress
Most people think the kippah is the "original" Jewish hat, but that's actually not true. If you go back to biblical times or the era of the Talmud, Middle Eastern Jews wore something called a Sudra.
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It was essentially a turban or a wrapped scarf. In the hot climates of the Levant and Babylonia, a small cap wouldn't do much for you. You needed something to keep the sun off your neck. Over centuries of exile and movement into Europe, the Sudra faded away, replaced by the local headwear of the time—which eventually evolved into the caps and hats we see today.
There is actually a small modern movement of "Mizrachi" (Middle Eastern) Jews trying to bring the Sudra back. They see it as a way to reclaim an indigenous Jewish identity that existed long before the European shtreimel.
Why Do Women Cover Their Hair Too?
When talking about what the hats are called that the Jewish wear, we can't ignore the women. However, the rules are different. While men wear a headcovering as a sign of reverence, married Orthodox women cover their hair as a matter of tzniut, or modesty.
The most common covering is the Tichel (also called a Mitpachat). This is a scarf tied in often intricate and beautiful ways. In some communities, women wear a Snood, which is more like a soft, slouchy bag that holds the hair.
And then there is the Sheitel. This is a wig. The idea is that the woman's natural hair is kept private for her and her husband, while she still maintains a conventional appearance in public. To a stranger, it just looks like hair. To the community, it’s a fulfillment of religious law. In some very specific Hasidic circles, women will even wear a small hat on top of their wig to make it extra clear that it’s a covering.
It’s Not Just About Fashion
The "hat" isn't a costume. For a Jewish person, putting on a kippah or a hat in the morning is a ritual. It’s an act of mindfulness.
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There is a famous story about a rabbi who was asked why he wears a headcovering. He replied that he couldn't walk four cubits (about six feet) without acknowledging God’s presence. It creates a boundary between the human and the divine.
Is it required by the Torah? Not explicitly. It’s a minhag, a custom that has taken on the force of law over thousands of years. In the ancient world, servants covered their heads in the presence of masters. Since Jews consider themselves servants of God, the headcovering became a permanent fixture.
The Cultural Weight of the Hat
Sometimes, the hat is a target. We have to be honest about that. In many parts of the world, wearing a kippah or a shtreimel makes a person instantly identifiable as Jewish. This has made headwear a focal point for both pride and, unfortunately, antisemitism.
In some European cities today, Jewish men might wear a baseball cap over their kippah to blend in for safety. It’s a heavy reality. The hat is a badge of courage just as much as it is a religious requirement.
Common Misconceptions to Clear Up
- Do they sleep in them? Generally, no. Most men take off their kippahs or hats when they go to bed.
- Is there a specific color required? Not by law, but by community standards. You won't see a Satmar Hasid in a neon green kippah.
- Do all Jews wear them? No. Reform and many Conservative Jews might only wear one during prayer or at a synagogue. Secular Jews may never wear one at all.
- How does it stay on? Physics, mostly. But also hair clips, double-sided tape, or just finding the right size for the shape of your skull.
Identifying the Different Styles Quickly
If you want to be an expert at identifying what these are called in the wild, look for these markers:
- Crocheted/Knitted: Modern Orthodox. Likely Zionistic.
- Black Suede: Often "Centrist" Orthodox or just someone who wants something low-profile.
- Black Velvet: Standard Haredi/Yeshivish.
- Large Fur Circle: Hasidic (Shtreimel).
- Tall Fur Cylinder: Hasidic (Spodik).
- The "Breslov" Kippah: Large, white, knitted, with a pom-pom on top. Very specific to followers of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.
Actionable Takeaways for the Curious
If you are visiting a Jewish community or attending a lifecycle event like a Bar Mitzvah or a wedding:
- Non-Jewish guests are usually expected to wear a kippah provided at the door of the synagogue as a sign of respect. You don't have to be Jewish to wear one in that context.
- Don't touch a Shtreimel. They are incredibly expensive and made of delicate materials. It's like touching someone's expensive wedding dress.
- Notice the diversity. Jewish culture isn't a monolith. The variety of hats is the best proof of how diverse the Jewish experience is across the globe.
- Ask respectfully. Most people are happy to explain their traditions if you approach them with genuine interest rather than just staring.
Jewish headcoverings are a bridge between the physical and the spiritual. Whether it's a simple piece of cloth or an elaborate fur hat, it’s all about the same thing: keeping the divine in mind while walking on the earth.
Next time you see someone wearing one, you won't just see a "Jewish hat." You'll see a history of migration, a specific theological stance, and a centuries-old commitment to tradition.