Wearing a Yarmulka in a Movie Theater

a man is required to have his head covered.

I think in the time of Rav Moshe the movies weren’t as bad as they are today and it was a lot more acceptable (although not entirely) to go to see a movie.

Nowadays though, the Chilul Hashem of walking into a movie theater probably outweighs the halacha of wearing a yarmulke.

That’s what I would say.

Because wearing a hat may block the person behind you view of the screen…

Derek Hamelech

If I were you I would not recommend people take off Yarmulkes. A Yarmulke is a testament and reminder to the wearer that there is a G-d above him. By taking off your Yarmulke its like telling yourself “Hashem isn’t here he can’t see me now Im flying under the radar and can get away with this because I took off my Yarmulke so now Im not Jewish so the not Jewish guy whoever he is did this but me, I DIDN’T DO THIS” its a way of lying to yourself and trying to make your conscience feel better. If you know you have to wear a Yarmuulka the whole time maybe you wont end up going into the movie theater in the first place!

I believe the reason was that a yid looks like a yid whether or not he is wearing his yarmulke. That person going into the movies is already being oiver one averia. By removing his yarmulke he is now oiver 2 averiros.

I am not a Rov so I would not tell anyone to put on or take off their yarmuulkes ever.

But my opinion is that whatever the spiritual gains that are acquired from wearing a yarmulke, they are offset by the aviera d’oraissa of chillul Hashem. Yatza schar b’hefseido.

But obviously if wearing a yarmulke will keep someone out of a theater he shouldn’t take it off.

Hi. I see my above comment is still in yellow. I hope it gets posted. (I am guessing that means it has not yet posted so therefore a moderator is deliberating as to whether to post an incisive comment that has the potential to shine light in a way that others do not like to see it shine). That said, I dont wear a kippah to a movie if I was to go. I would usually cover my head with a hat either baseball or other formal wear hat. But that said, I would of course wear a kippah no matter what and even under my hat if that was the story. You should cover your head. A movie theatre is not a location of sin. Don’t go to movies you would be ashamed to be seen viewing. Remember you represent our Nation and our G-d and act accordingly.

B”H I’ve never been inside a movie theater. But is there really a phenomenon where one can see a frum yid unabashedly going into a theater with a yarmulka?? That almost sounds like chas v’shalom going into a bar or strip joint with a kaputa!

I assumed that we were talking about someone who the only way to discern that he is Jewish is through his yarmulke.

Obviously going into the theater with a beard, peyos and langa rekel, but with a baseball cap on, isn’t going to really accomplish much.

Englishman: “As bad as a strip joint”

Well, you know, Kanga (the only female character in the Winnie the Pooh movies) does spend the entire movie without any clothes… 🙂

The Wolf

(For those who don’t know — Kanga is a kangaroo.)

Listen Chavereim, Torah does not forbid you from watching a screenplay. Torah forbids you from acting like a buffoon.

The Yalkut in Shemos 1 says (among other reasons) that the problem the Egyptians had with us is that we filled their theaters and circuses. This is the first step in assimilation and it was only shevet Levi who did not go to these things, that were saved from the years of servitude.

There is no illicit problem going to a movie unless say it is say Adult Rated.

Actually there can still be problems of isurei histaklus and ri’iyah. And lets be honest. Its more than just likely.

Personally I felt that cinema was a good way for children to learn about the world when used in an intelligent fashion.

Is this as opposed to the Torah which you are saying would not have been an optimal way to teach children about the world despite Ben Bag Bag who says that everything is in it?

Can you imagine not being able to see say Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark or Schindlers List?

Very easily. And from what I’ve heard, at least Schindler’s List was not entirely appropriate for a Jew to be watching.

I am a modern orthodox jew and I will not kow tow to a philosophy which states that this “secular” is antithecial to Israel. It is not and it in fact educates us as well. I will beat this to death as long as I exist.

I don’t think anyone is telling you to kowtow to anyone. But your opinion might not be entirely based on halacha. In which case, you may want to ask yourself is Hashem is asking of you to kowtow to his Law.

what you do and see will either improve or corrupt you and then you can take your Torah Skills to the test and figure out what you are made of and what you want to be in life.

It sounds as though you are suggesting that people test themselves in what they can handle secularly speaking. Are you sure that it is OK to test yourself in this way?

That is more intense and stronger than avoiding a theatre where the cinema plays for the rest of your lives.

What exactly is the problem with avoiding a theater for the rest of our lives? Would you not avoid a non-kosher restaurant your whole life or would you say that its better to go into the non-kosher restaurant and order a drink rather than avoid it?

I urge you to research the halachos of histaklus and r’iyah before writing such strongly worded statements about what the Torah allows or forbids.

Maybe it depends on the movie playing. If it’s something rated R (restricted) then you’ve got a problem. If it’s rated G (general) then what’s to get upset about? How dangerous is “March of the Penguins?”

Of course, you should be careful that you’re paying attention to the ratings on violence, and not just gilui arayos. Murder is also forbidden. Maybe watching violent films is how we get posters on some sites ranting about hanging Levi Aron from a lamp post after mutilating him. Not exactly speech that the Gedolim of the previous generation would have approved. What happened with Aron himself is a matter for the courts and the psychiatrists, not fantasizing about vigilante revenge.

I do indeed feel you should be able to test yourself.

Chaza”l, however, do not.

Well guys, I will not participate in a nation of illiberal ideals. That is your way. I disagree that that is our Creators intent.

This is what distinguishes orthodox Judaism from Conservative or Reform. Among them, some choose to keep Shabbos and otthers don’t Some choose to keep kosher and others not.

Among the different sects of orthodoxy, whether Sephardic, Chassidishe, Yeshivishe, Modern, whatever they are- even though each group may argue bitterly with each other- the common denominator between us all is that we all conform to the words of our leaders. We do not choose for ourselves what the correct approach to the world is, we defer to our Rabbis.

This is what makes us free- not the liberty to choose to do whatever we think is correct, but that we are free from the yetzer hara.

We follow the halacha and the words of Chazal in all cases, not just when we deem it apropos. You call this illiberal, we call it freedom.

True, but if my very existence is a chillul HaShem (as I’ve been told in the past), then it really matters not where I go. If I go to shul, it’s a chillul HaShem. If I go to the theater, it’s a chillul HaShem.<

Maybe it’s a bigger chillul HaShem to go into a theater.

Pac-Man

Your words are filled with hate and poison. Its a wonder that someone who disregards his fellow brethren so much can still consider himself a religious jew.

On the movies issue, I think if Rav Moshe says if you go to wear a yamulke, then wear it.

What’s the contention. The modern constantly knock Daas Torah, both here and elsewhere. They make the repugnant comparison of Daas Torah to r’l ‘papal infallibility’ and use many other ways to knock Daas Torah. This is no secret, it is quite open. We see it all the time.

From R. Aharon Lichtenstein, “Legitimization of Modernity: Classical and Contemporary” in Leaves of Faith (Ktav: 2004), vol. 2 p. 294:

There are many apologists who contend that the primary issues are matters of haskafah, to which authority per se is far less relevant, and with respect to which classical sources are arguably self-sufficient. This brings us to the familiar shibboleth of da’at Torah. This concept is generally in disrepute among votaries of modern Orthodoxy, who have sought to challenge both its historical progeny and its philosophic validity.

R. Mordechai Willig on Daas Torah:

…Advice is, by definition, not binding. One who seeks rabbinic advice and chooses to ignore it does not violate halachah. Indeed, if he is convinced, based on superior information, that the Rabbi has erred, he should ignore the advice.

There are many people who are not orthodox , but feel some closeness to yiddishkite.

They feel the davining at Young Israels is more real than conservative or reform, but they do not feel confordable in a more charedi shul (There is more singing , The Rabbi gives a sermon in english on topics of intrest to these people) (Chabad is an exception, but Chabad houses out of town are not aimed for Charedim anyway)

These people many times send their kids to a jewish orthodox Day school.

I remember in Flordia years ago, as a child I noticed frum women sitting at the pool in their swim suits and I always found it weird that they sat with their hair covered!

This is similar.

“The Yalkut in Shemos 1 says (among other reasons) that the problem the Egyptians had with us is that we filled their theaters and circuses. “

Theaters and circuses in ancient times were completely different from theaters and circuses today.

“We do not choose for ourselves what the correct approach to the world is, we defer to our Rabbis.”

True. But it needs to be pointed out that many of our rabbis do not see movies or theater as asur.

“Actually the modern are the exception. They, b’shitta, don’t have to listen to the words of their leaders. Much like the non-Orthodox. “

This is a slanderous lie.

” The modern constantly knock Daas Torah, both here and elsewhere.”

Rav Lichtenstein and Rav Willig are both 100% correct. There is a difference between asking for advice and asking a halachic shilah. I can’t believe that it is even an issue.

My friend taught me a General Rule of Thumb….If you are to embarrased to walk into a place wearing a Yarmulka, then you shouldn’t be walking in there at all.

My friend taught me a General Rule of Thumb….If you are to embarrased to walk into a place wearing a Yarmulka, then you shouldn’t be walking in there at all.

Would you be embarrassed to walk into a baseball game where there sell KOSHER FOOD (The employees at the stand usually wear kippot)

Theaters and circuses in ancient times were completely different from theaters and circuses today.

In what way were they different and how is that relevant? The point is that we went their houses of entertainment. Whatever that entertainment happened to be. That is the first step to assimilation. First we break bread with them then we follow their ways. Then R”L.

True. But it needs to be pointed out that many of our rabbis do not see movies or theater as asur.

That is true. Many of your rabbis don’t. But that is not the point I was making. A rabbi is qualified to determine such a view. A person who has little knowledge of Torah is not.

Zahavasdad – just because you choose to wear a hat to a game, doesn’t mean that you are embarrassed to wear a Yarmulka.

Do you not wear a Yarmulka during the National Anthem?

And not sure why the Kosher Food part is relevant, McDonalds also sells Kosher products.

Maybe it’s a bigger chillul HaShem to go into a theater.

Bigger than my very existence? I doubt it.

No, bigger than not walking into a theater.