Medieval Styles of Jewish Hat

The Jewish Hat or Jewish cap was a cone-shaped pointy hat worn by Jewish men in the
Middle Ages. Wearing the Jewish hat - usually white or yellow in shade - was initially
elective. Wearers chose this way to display their recognition that God was over them in
power and authority as Rabbi Abraham Shemtov so eloquently explains,

“We place the kipa (Jewish hat) on the very

highest point of our being -- on our head, the
vessel of our intellect -- to tell ourselves and the
world that there is something which is above
man's intellect -- the infinite Wisdom of God.”

Jewish leaders were so convicted of this that they

made it one of their laws. And observant Jews
were to keep their heads covered most of the time.
This belief was reflected in their art.

Frequently Jewish manuscripts were illustrated

with the Jewish hat. The Jewish calendar
illustrated this as did the coat of arms (at the
inspiration of Jews in Germany) too. In fact, even
historic Christian Jewish figures such as Saint Joseph and the Lord Jesus were depicted
wearing the Jewish hat.

The public display of faith by the Jewish hat was soon, however, met with regulation by
the non-Jewish world. Muslims and Christians also wore distinguishing hats, and neither
wanted there to be confusion as to who one was for social interactions and especially
marriage. So religious governments intervened.

In the Muslim world the state leaders (called caliphs) ordered the dhimmis (or non-
Muslims) to wear head coverings that stood out. Usually this meant the Jewish hat was
bright, but it depended on the caliph. Take caliph al Mutawakkil in 850, for instance. He
required all non-Muslims (Jews and Christians) to wear a headscarf called a taylasin.
Then in the 16th century the caliphate of the Maghreb (5 North African countries)
ordered Jewish men to distinguish themselves by wearing black turbans.

In Europe at the Fourth Lateran Council, Pope Innocent III ruled that Jews and Muslims
had to distinguish themselves by their outerwear from Christians so that no fornication
between the faiths would occur. He claimed authority from Mosaic law based on
Leviticus 19:19 and Deuteronomy 22:5 and 11. More notorious than requiring Jewish
men to wear the hat, was, however, the yellow cloth badge in the shape of a star. The
yellow badge was required throughout Medieval time and later shamefully revived by the
Nazis.
Understandably, Jews did not like this intrusion into their religion. Jews believed their
religious displays as with the Jewish hat was as a matter of principle up to them – not
out of discrimination and shame for their belief – but out of a joy for the duty that was set
before them.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the Jewish hat took many forms. In the 13th century, it
took the form of the soft felt Phrygian cap. This cap was a floppy, pointy felt cap with a
round circular brim. It varied in size. And sometimes by the 14th century displayed a bell
or bobble at the tip. The hat later became flatter and more rounded.

And by the 15th century the Jewish hat became quite exotic, featuring a wide, spread out
brim, often with flares in Eastern Europe. They were even berets and loose turbans.
Jewish art reflects this trend up to the 18th century.