YamulKap in the News

Manhattan man Seth Mosler's 'Yamulkap' takes an unorthodox approach to tradition
BY Erica Pearson
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Wednesday, June 23rd 2010, 4:00 AM

Rosier/News, Linda Seth Mosler, inventor of the 'Yamulkap,' tries on his creation at site of his inspiration, Central Park’s Great Lawn.
This baseball cap is totally kosher.

A Manhattan man has invented what he calls the "yamulkap," a yarmulke with a brim like a baseball cap so religious men can get some shade.

Seth Mosler, 59, who is Jewish but not strictly observant, was walking through Central Park two summers ago when inspiration struck near the Great Lawn's ballfields.

He saw Orthodox kids throwing frisbees and tossing softballs, all wearing yarmulkes that offered no shade from the sun.

"I noticed they were hot and getting sunburned," said Mosler, a charter school business manager who lives on the upper East Side. There must be a way to wear a yarmulke and sun-shading brim at the same time, Mosler said he thought.

He cut up an old baseball cap as a prototype, then searched for a manufacturer.

"It could be a trendy thing to wear, but I think it will probably appeal to people who are already wearing yarmulkes," Mosler said. "Hopefully, word of mouth will get it going."

To make sure that the cap met religious standards, he consulted with two rabbis, one Orthodox and the other conservative. Both gave him the go-ahead.

"When you're talking about yarmulkes, you are talking about thousands of years of tradition," Mosler said. "But this has a practical purpose."

The yamulkap business has been a family affair. Mosler's 28-year-old daughter, Rachel, and her boyfriend, Nick, helped set up his Web site, www.yamulkap.com.

Mosler began selling the caps for $12.99 online about two months ago and has sold about two dozen so far, he said.

Reviews around the city were mixed. Manhattan mom Lea Haron said she thought the yamulkap was a little silly, since religious rules say wearing a baseball cap is fine, just so one's head is covered.

"I feel bad," Haron said. "I hope he didn't put too much money into it."

But others thought that the invention was great.

"It's a cute idea. For kids, it's wonderful, I think," said upper West Side Orthodox mom Chassida Landy, 32, as she tried the cap on 6-year-old son, Tzvi.

Landy said Tzvi's yarmulke can get in the way when he plays baseball or tag in Riverside Park.

"Sometimes when you play sports, it always falls off," she said. "It's just not comfortable; sometimes it slips."

World Cup Coach

I have been watching a lot of the world cup. Muted, of course, because of those bleeping horns. I love watching the coaches. They all seem to be 50 year old men sweating, screaming and pointing to almost everything that is happening on the field. It seems they really think they are in control of the game and what the players are doing. I am not sure they realize whoever gets the first goal wins and for the rest of the game you just kick the ball around and watch the clock run down which is hard because in soccer you never know how much time is left-that is a secret.
So back to the coach with a very concerned, focused look in his eyes who is yelling and waving his hands at the players. I wonder what he is saying. Maybe "get the ball in the bleeping net so I can go home", or "why are you all running around aimlessly and not doing anything" or "don't use your hands, use your feet!"
Whatever he is doing he sure works works hard. I think the good coaches should have one word names like Pele and Beckham and Kobe. Then they would be famous and get soccer talk shows. They would only have one guest and the show would be over.
Goooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllll !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too Many Marathons

I heard yesterday that a woman has set the record as the youngest ever to run a marathon in all 52 states. I don't know who she is and I am afraid to look it up. She is probably 14 and started running marathons at age 2 by pushing her stroller to Disney World. She is also probably president of her class, practices the piano 6 hours a day, is a state champion gymnast and delivers meals to senior citizens.

I can't take these over achievers with these stupid records anymore. Like the youngest to kid to sail around the world blindfolded, the oldest person to climb Mt. Everest with a walker and the first golfer to get a hole in one while snorkeling.

Let's stick with running, jumping and lifting weights like the ancient Greeks in the first Olympics. The 2 year olds training to swim to Europe under water are just going to have to relax and take a nap.

Al Gore and the Band Saw

When Bill got caught with Monica, I don't think anyone would have bet that Bill and Hillary would be married longer than Al and Tipper. But here we are. It seems like Hollywood Al is moving on to his $8 million dollar global cooling solar energy hot air wind powered estate in LA and Tipper is staying in the 40,000 sq ft mini country house in Tennessee. Neither house uses any energy and together, by means of thermomandibular fusion, produce 47,000 pounds of ice every year which is transported to the North Pole by Balto the wonder dog who operates on canine solar cells. His bronze statue is in Central Park. Which brings up the divorce settlement which should be very interesting.

Al told us in his presidential campaign that he invented the Internet so that will have to be split up 50-50. He gets Google and Yahoo, and she gets Apple and Microsoft. That sounds fair. Neither want AOL.

Then we go to the Nobel Peace Prize. Have to cut that medal in half. Get out the band saw.

And then the Oscar for "An Inconvenient Truth". I guess they have to cut that in half also or maybe cut the head off or melt it down and divide it that way. And I guess he gets the first half of the movie and she gets the last half or maybe he gets the ticket revenue and she gets the popcorn royalties. Another ugly court battle. I would hold out for the junior mints.

I predict he ends up with Angelina after she dumps Brad. I understand that although Al has 4 kids he always wanted 27 so it would be a good match. Brad is very photogenic so maybe there is a future with Tipper.

In the end it is sad to see this happen. But when you invent the Internet and don't get credit for it how can you not be bitter and miserable to live with? And loosing the Presidency to George W? Time to move on. Mission accomplished.