Some think they all look like this:
But sometimes they look like this:
Or even this:
Boys and men are asked by the Torah not to “round off the corners” (peyot in Hebrew) of their faces (Leviticus 19:27). The word peyos refers to sideburns — i.e. the hair in front of the ears
that extends to underneath the cheekbone which is level with the nose
(Talmud – Makkot 20a). Maimonides explains that the prohibition of “rounding” prohibits the
removal of sideburns, by razor, tweezers or any other means. It
is permitted to trim the sideburns, even very close to the skin, using
scissors. (Thanks to Judaism.about.com.)
So actually, most men are already keeping the mitzvah.
Why do some guys grow them long, curl them, wear them in front of the ears, or tucked behind the ears?
Once they are not being trimmed, some like to “adorn” or “embellish” the mitzvah by growing them long, making them look nice, and wearing them prominently. Sometimes the way you wear your peyos is a symbol of identity with a particular sub-group within Judaism. Some have a custom to let a boy’s hair grow until the age of 3 (another post), then cutting it in a festive ceremony, putting emphasis on leaving the “peyos.”
But you won’t be seeing this:
Ya just won’t.
The last photo–of that poor kid with the bowl cut–is a great argument for Jewish style wisdom.
Believe it or not I think he looks cute!
Peyot are definitely a good example for the "look at all the mitzvot you're doing already" approach to helping people see their Jewish involvement as active.
What a great idea for a future post!
No, but you will see the opposite–a boy with his head shaved and only the peyos left.
Ooh I shoulda included a picture of that.
you have to add that . . . it totally freaks me out!
Thank you for that explanation! I admit I always thought it was the hair at the temples that was left to grow.
When you say some men "curl them", do you mean with an actual curling iron, or some other hairstyling technique?!? This has just created a rather hilarious image in my mind 🙂
It IS the hair at the temples. The little boys use little foam curlers. Men just use their finger. Most Jews don't have stick-straight hair anyway!
True – my father sports a textbook example of a "Jewfro". My own hair used to be barely wavy and now is turning into lose curls – actually in parallel to my exploration of the Jewish roots. Hmmm, so if I get off the fence about converting I'll end up with ringlets?!? 😀
Ha! Well, my own hair is pretty straight and most of my kids inherited it so… no guarantees 🙂
Does anyone grow them out without curling them?
Yes, I have seen it.
No rules about girls' hair? Kids I mean? Do they have to leave it long, I don't think I've ever seen a photo of a short-haired O girl.
Also, historical question, what did men do in the era before Maimonides explained it?
Good question! I had to ask my husband that one. He said Maimonides rarely published novel thoughts. He was known as a collector, organizer, and codifier of that which existed in the Talmud, sorting through minority opinion, majority opinion, and practical decisions in Jewish Law. It is possible that some in his generation (or prior) were less aware of the actual decision in this regard until his magnum opus elucidated it for that generation and all to follow.
Nope, no rules about girls' hair. You'll see all styles. Not much pink streaking and such though.
I thought the long curly peyot also had to do with study – something about curling the hair around your finger while you think?
I've heard that it's possible that's how curly peyos became "normal" – because the boys/men would absent-mindedly twirl their peyos around the finger while studying.
I just love all these comments – only one thing to add – the little boys' peyos can be easily curled into shape with some water and your finger, stretching the hair a bit while you curl.
there are "ultra-O" circles that don't cut their girls' hair at all until the first morning after their marriage. The girls wear their hair in braids – two until of marriageable age, then one.
Here's an AWESOME very helpful visual for us guys:
http://kosherhaircut.com/
to A Yid:
thx so much for leading us to that AWESOME website, http://kosherhaircut.com/
truly very helpful
does it mean anything when a man curls his peyot? Like, is it just habit (like twirling a pen may be to someone else), or is it actually encouraged in certain situations? I've seen a lot of men doing this while walking on the street, and I don't understand it. Thanks!
Well, they do like them curly – I think because it's an enhancement of the mitzvah. Also – it's a habit.
Growing peyos is a great idea for all Jews. It tends to give those Jews who do not wear a kippot in public identification, and other Jews confidence that there are other Jews around.