According to breaking news on JTA, there are yarmulkes that are being displayed in Washington at the newest museum- the Newseum. These yarmulkes, also known as kippot, were once the centerpiece of a religious controversy in the U.S. Airforce.
These kippot were worn by Simcha Goldman, who was a clinical psychologist for the airforce in the 1980's. Apparently, he was threatened by the court marshall for wearing the religious article indoors. This was a major debate, because it brought into question the 1st amendment freedom of free exercise of religion. In response to this controvery, Congress passed legislation that allows some religious apparel to be worn by those in the armed forces.
This brings up some difficult questions about Jewish identity versus American identity. Which is more important? I would hope that in a "free country" like America, one would be able to express their religious and patriotic identities at the same time without feeling pressure to hide one or the other. What does this say about America, or American Jewish identity?
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2 comments:
This was always an interesting issue at my public middle school. Upon immediately entering the school building, all students were told "hats off" as they thought people would associate hats with gangs. But in my Jewish high school, male students were free to wear either a hat or a kippah, as long as their head was covered. The notion of what constitutes a proper head covering and the recognizance of the religious questions affiliated with it is one that I don't believe has been fully addressed yet within the public realm.
I agree that this is an interesting debate. I suppose there is no reason for school administrations to make a big fuss over the issue, seeing as it became a huge ordeal in france about a year or so ago with head scarves, etc.
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