FRONT-LINE HEROES
A Bellaire family turns kippahs into masks for the homeless.
Matthew Jason, 15, was sitting down for Shabbat dinner with his family — parents Mark and Silvia and brothers, Jeremy, 19, and Daniel, 23, who had returned home from Brown University to weather the pandemic — when the idea hit him.
They were wearing kippahs, or kippot, the Hebrew word for the brimless hat worn by Jewish men, also known by the Yiddish term yarmulke. The topic of a mask shortage was taking center stage at the dinner table. On the news, Silvia recalled, there was talk of creative ways to make your own. Somehow, Matthew said, a connection was made.
“A yarmulke kind of fits the shape of your face like a mask,” he said. “So, we ran with it.”
The Jasons had some elastic and some thread, super glue and staples. They figured out how to affix elastic straps to the side of a kippah and turn them into a mask. Yarmulkes are already made with double fabric, which makes a strong barrier around the nose and mouth. “They’re perfect,”
Silvia said.
Kippahs to the Rescue was born. The goal, Matthew said, was to create and distribute masks to Houston’s homeless population.
“We knew there was a mask problem,” he said. “That means that homeless people definitely can’t get them. We thought it would be a good idea for us to create something.”
The family had been volunteering for years with Houston Food Not Bombs, which provides free vegan food to the homeless. The Jasons decided to make a batch of kippah masks to donate with the usual food they bring and serve.
They started with a large container, full of dozens of kippot they had at home.
“You go to a lot of bar and bat mitzvahs over the years,” Matthew said.
His family had a few mementos from the coming-of-age celebrations — as well as extras from their own.
The next step was asking permission from their synagogue Birth Shalom to place a box for more kippah donations in front of the building. “The best place to get kippot is at the synagogue,” Matthew said.
Before long, he gathered more than 600 yarmulkes. About a week after starting Kippahs to the Rescue, the Jasons brought a donation to their next session at Food Not Bombs.
“People were surprised that we took the time to make these for them,” Matthew said. “They were grateful.”
Every week, the Jasons cook a large pan of rice and vegetables and another of pasta. They bring jars of cold water, serving spoons, plastic plates and utensils.
“We have our Shabbat dinner early, like at 6 p.m., and then we all go,” Silvia said. “There are about 100 people waiting for us. You get to know friends, get to hear their stories, and they get to know you.”
The experience has been transformational for the family who have kept that spirit of giving going even during the pandemic. They turn the driveway at their Bellaire home into a food-prep station every week. Four families usually donate food, and then Mark and Silvia drive the meals downtown, where volunteers hand out the donations.
“We still have brave, committed volunteers who give the food directly,” Silvia said.
Kippot are worn as a way to honor God — a reminder of His presence.
“If we’re able to save someone’s life or preserve their health, then that’s a spiritual duty for us Jews,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to strive to be a better human and to help other people. We’re lucky to still have jobs, shelter and food, access to education — this is the least we can do.”
“We knew there was a mask problem. That means that homeless people definitely can’t get them. We thought it would be a good idea for us to create something. Matthew Jason