Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoovie
Strange... wonder how that got started...
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In the Middle Ages and even back into antiquity a man would remove his head gear as a sign of respect and homage. It was a way of making oneself a bit more vulnerable and saying, "I'm not here to threaten you..." My bank has a sign that asks people to remove motorcycle helmets and related head gear. It's a way of "showing yourself." By "showing yourself" you lower the level of tension and alarm that your arrival may have caused.
The hand wave gesture is similar. It was a way of showing that a person had nothing in their hand, in particular a weapon.
To even be allowed to approach the Western Wall men have to wear a head covering. There are boxes with kippot available on site for use.
Here's the rules:
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/i...stern-wall.htm
You could just push your way through and demand your rights to pray with an uncovered head, but I pretty much guarantee a small riot will ensue. You will be arrested, and by the time the police or soldiers get there you will probably be glad to see them.
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