Lawyer-Wearing-Yarmulka

An ultra-Orthodox Jew and a member of Meretz?  Wow.  

So I went to the interview with a suede yarmulka on my head. It felt a little strange, I haven't worn a suede yarmulka since 1st grade.

Then interviews went well - but if I don't get the job, I'm not going to second guess my decision. I'm an Orthodox Jew, and damn proud of it.

Two op-eds in the Jerusalem Post, here and here, dealing with wearing yarmulkas.

This issue has been brewing for a long time.

I'm a second year law school student, it's the middle of February and I don't have a job for the summer yet. No big deal, I'm not really worried, there's plenty of time.

I just managed to get an interview with a mid-sized firm that I really, really want to work for. But then my thoughts drift to the round circle of felt that is on the top of my head. It's so difficult to a good job, do I really want to lessen my chances by wearing my yarmulka?

The funny thing is, this has never before been an issue for me. Before law school I always wore my yarmulka on job interview- from the DA's office one summer to a plumbing supply company I once worked for. I'm not self-conscious of my yarmulka at all. Last year I got accepted to every summer job I interviewed for except for one- a frum judge in Manhattan who doesn't wear a yarmulka.

But now the stakes are different. I really want this job. And yet I also want to be able to wear a yarmulka at work, but I think it's wrong to not wear one on the interview but then show up to work wearing one.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to hide that I'm an Orthodox Jew on the interview, my resume clearly says that I spent a year in yeshiva in Israel. I don't think that law firms don't want to hire Orthodox Jews. But for some reason, many law firms don't like hiring Orthodox Jews who wear yarmulkas- it's too in your face, too much "look at me, I'm an Orthodox Jew!" I'm guessing that many firms wouldn't be too thrilled if someone showed up wearing a six inch cross around their neck or a turban on their head.

I had an idea though- Since elementary school I have always worn a velvet yarmulka. Now I'm thinking that for the interview I should switch to a suede one. Yeah I know that hardly anyone outside the Orthdox world knows the difference between styles of yarmulkas but I just think that suede looks more professional and less in-your-face.

Would I then switch back to velvet once I got the job? I'm not sure.

I've been working on to other projects the last 2 weeks and it's taking away my blogging juice. Plus I'm missing a couple of keys on my keyboard so it's difficult to type.

Growing up, one of my favorite books was Curious George. Now they're making a movie out of it. And possibly ruining it.

Throwing rocks and bricks at soldiers and police officers?

I used to sympathize and support them, but when they start acting like Palestinians, all support disappears.