Woolen kippah (y armulkah) worn for many years by Rabbi Yehudahleh of Dzikov.
Books and oral tradition relate the well-known fact that all items which belonged to tzaddikim are a tried and true segulah. Most of all, a kippah – for a kippah is designated to increase fear of Heav-n, as it says in the gemara: “כסי ראשך כי היכא דתיהוי עלך אימתא דשמיא” [“Cover your head so that you will have fear of Heav-n”]. This is also the reason for the adornment of covering a baby’s head with a tzaddik’s kippah during his ritual circumcision. There are those who add that the root of the word yarmulkah [‘ירמולקה’] is an abbreviation for fear of G-d [‘ירא מאלו-ה’]. Another virtue of a tzaddik’s kippah is that he wears it throughout the entire day without a break, including during the most sublime and poignant moments.
Rabbi Yehudah Horowitz [1905-1989], known by the nickname Rabbi Yehudah’leh Dzikover, was born to his father Rabbi Alter Yechezkel Eliyahu, the Admo”r of Dzikov, and was a grandson of the Admo”r Rabbi Yisrael of Vizhnitz, who raised him. He also studied under Rabbi Meir Arik. He married his cousin, a daughter of the Admor Rabbi Chaim Meir of Vizhnitz. Beginning in 1936, he served as a dayan in Klausenberg. His father was killed in the Holocaust, yet R’ Yehudahleh adamantly refused to be appointed as Admo”r of Dzikov. Despite this, he had many followers. He was known as a lofty, pious tzaddik. He gave the money from his dowry to Rabbi Yosef Naftali Stern of Pressburg to print the Chatam Sofer’s books. He was known to say, “The Chatam Sofer speaks to my heart.” Rabbi Yosef Naftali expressed that Rabbi Yehudah’leh is “Once-in-a-generation in the Chatam Sofer’s doctrine.” In his final years, he lived in London, where he led his Chassidim, and he is buried there. His grave has become a pilgrimage site. Torah thoughts by him and his comments on several books have been printed in recent years. (For more about him, refer to Alfasi Part II, 3-4.)
Diameter: approximately 18 cm; fine condition. Extensive usage and sweat stains. Holes and unraveling.
Signed confirmation with a picture of the kippah attesting that this kippah belonged to Rabbi Yehuda’leh of Dzikov, and that he wore it over a lengthy period.