Strictly observant male Jews wear some form of a head covering all the time as commanded by the Torah. Usually a Jewish person will cover their head by wearing the identifiable skull cap (kippah/yalmulke). However one might prefer to wear a cap or hat. While originally the head covering was only worn during prayer, over time the practice of covering one's head has become one of the most observed Jewish rituals.

For Reform Jews, the wearing of head coverings is optional however most tend to wear a kippah during prayer or religious ceremonies. When male congregants or visitors enter a synagogue sanctuary (the part of a synagogue where services are held), it is customary to wear a kippah. In the Reform movement the wearing of a kippah is a personal choice for both men and women. The kippahs themselves can vary from traditional designs to more expressive styles. The embroidery on them can range from images of Magen Davids, Hebrew names, religious ceremonies, prayer books, to flowers and animals. Kippahs may hold special meaning or commemorate a certain event, and are therefore often keepsakes to the beholder.

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