When Presidents Wear Yarmulkes

I think this is a kind of "when in Rome" thing for non-Jews. Politically, it is the equivalent of eating at local BBQs, kissing babies, etc.

if in Rome is correct.

if a Jew goes to a church they do not wear a hat

if ANY non Jew goes to a Jewish house of worship and they are male they don a kippot to show respect.

I have seen Jews who keep on a hat or kipot(yalmulka)in a church and men who did not don a head covering in a Jewish house of worship who were not Jewish. They feel they are not disresptful to the religon they are not who's "house" they are visiting but being true to their own faith.

Kinda depends on how one looks at things!

hugs
Laura

This is part of a larger discussion of three related but different things:

1) How does/should one interact generally with the people, traditions, places and objects of another religious tradition?

2) What actions do we expect/require of leaders courting our support?

3) What actions do we the people consider acceptable/ appropriate/ or mandatory behavior by our leaders when they encounter a leader from elsewhere or a leader of a different sort?

For myself, I would be offended if my president were to exhibit the protocols appropriate to a British subject when meeting Queen Elizabeth II. I would be offended if my president (even if he were Roman Catholic) were to kiss the ring of the Pope or a bishop. These are examples from two distinct sides of the issue: a leader of one country should not act like the subject of another country's leader or figurehead; and the representative of a multi-religious nation should not, while in office except in completely private ways and places, subject him or herself to the authority or standing of any religious leader.

But those objections and examples are related to the way a leader should interact with other leaders. When it comes to showing respect for the places, traditions, and objects of a group to which the leader does not belong, on the other hand, a great deal of care must be taken to determine whether a show of respect would do more harm than good both in society at large and within the group one is visiting as an outsider. It is a political calculus that involves a certain amount of unavoidable cynicism. Currently, the cynicism on the part of America's voters paves the way for antisemites to excuse their candidate's donning of a kippa as just another political move needed to get votes. This may or may not be the analysis of the candidate, but it is always part of the political equation. But the result is that not all groups are "courted" in the same way. I don't see America at large being very forgiving of presidential candidates showing equivalent ease with the accoutrements of some other religions.

Personally, I would prefer that a leader or presidential candidate be willing to show respect to all religions of which he is not a part but do so in such a way that no group is more honored or respected than any other. It is part of the idea of the candidate and later the president being of and for all citizens equally.

My first question is perhaps more complicated because it doesn't involve us acting on anyone's behalf but only as ourselves. An open mind and a well-guided conscience have to do their individual work to determine how we individually act in the presence of a group of which we are not a part. But this is still intertwined inextricably with the political calculi.

L'Shalom,
Chaim

Whenever a non-Jewish President or other Politician enter a synagogue or other Jewish Holy sites, they must wear a yalmulka. However, if a religious Jew who wears a yalmulka, he must wear it in other non-Jewish religious places.