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1. What is a Karaite Jew?

I recently received an email from a Karaite Jew asking me to perform his wedding ceremony. The Karaite sect was founded by Anan ben David in the middle of the 8th century. The sect regarded itself as an integral part of the Jewish people, though it was read out of the Jewish fold by the adherents of rabbinic Judaism. Karaite Jews posit that the Tanakh (Jewish Bible) is the religious authority for Jews, and they do not accept the Talmud and its rulings as binding.

Karaites believe that each individual Jew has the responsibility to study the Bible, get to know it well, and then decide for him or herself its correct meaning. There are purportedly 30,000 or more Jews who consider themselves Karaites worldwide.

In 1955, the question of intermarriage between Jews and Karaites was debated in the Knesset. The late David Ben-Gurion demanded that the rabbinical authorities should help find a solution to this problem of absorbing the Karaites into the Jewish fold. There were others who pointed out that the Karaites themselves are not quite ready for a step like this.

2. Is there a Jewish prayer for the traveler?

According to the Talmud (Berachot 29b), one should offer a prayer before starting out on a journey. Called the Traveler's Prayer (Tefillat HaDerech in Hebrew), the prayer is included in most siddurim:

"May it be Your will, God of our ancestors to lead us on in safety, to guide us in safety, and to bring us to our destination in life, happiness, and peace. Deliver us from every lurking enemy and danger on the journey. Let us obtain favor, kindness, and love from You. Hear our supplication, for You O God hear our prayer and supplication."

In our Hebrew High School every student who receives his or her driver's license is presented with a Lucite Traveler's Prayer key chain, and all students sing siman tov and mazal tov.

3. Where did the idea of wearing a yarmulke come from?

Jewish tradition regards bareheadedness as a form of nakedness and shame. From talmudic statements it appears that the sages did not walk four steps with an uncovered head. This was looked upon as a mark of reverence for the Divine. In Temple times the Jewish priests wore a headdress in the form of a kind of turban while officiating. The word yarmulke itself, often translated as skullcap, is supposedly a word of Slavic derivation, or kappel (from the Italian cappelo) for hat, or kippah in Hebrew.

Rabbi Ron Isaacs is the spiritual leader of Temple Sholom, a Conservative congregation in Bridgewater. His forthcoming new book is "Siddur Or Shalom," a Shabbat morning prayerbook. Contact him at www.rabbiron.com or "Ask the Rabbi," c/o Rabbi Ron Isaacs, Temple Sholom, P.O. Box 6007, Bridgewater, N.J. 08807.