Halachot and Customs
Is It Permissible to Wear a Hat Instead of a Kippah?
Question
Is a religious person who strives to observe Torah and mitzvot required to wear specifically a kippah, or does any head covering satisfy this obligation - for example, a headband, cap, or hat? Is there an idea that the covering should דווקא be the way everyone wears it - round and visible? And if so, what is the source for this matter?
Answer
Greetings,
Any type of head covering, including a hat and cap, is good, and there is no requirement that it be specifically round. Rather, the main thing is that it be clearly visible from all sides of the head, both from the front and from the back, and there is an expression of piety to be careful that it cover all of the head or most of it (Yalkut Yosef, Siman 2, section 16).
With blessings,
Hillel Meirs
