The Agony of the Yarmulka

The Agony of the Yarmulka

In this personal essay, Julian Ungar-Sargon discusses his discomfort with wearing a yarmulke in public as an observant Jew in a secular world. He explores the history and significance of the tradition, and reflects on the tension between standing out as a Jew and the desire for anonymity. He also considers the cultural context of living among millions of Jews in New York and Israel, and the meaning of ritual in that context.