Why is the first haircut so significant in Jewish tradition?
When a Jewish man receives a haircut, he must be sure not to completely remove his pe’ot (side locks). The Torah forbids a Jewish man from cutting off his side locks. We learn this from the Pasuk (verse) in the Torah “Lo takifu pe’at roshchem”1, You shall not round off the edge of your head. Rashi explains this to mean that one may not remove the hair in the area of his sideburns.
Why Now?
When a Jewish boy gets his first haircut and refrains from removing his sideburns, he performs this mitzvah for the first time.2 Thus, at his third birthday, the very first stage of his maturity, we introduce him to the observance of the mitzvot!
Another reason suggested for the significance of this haircut is that excessive hair is a symbol of bodily arrogance.3 The commentators explain that excessive hair, not needed for the function of our physical body, represents the redundant growth of the body. This contradicts the Jewish ideology where our bodies are given to us in order to serve our real selves, our soul, in fulfilling our elevated mission.
A child’s first haircut signifies his recognition of his true identity, a proud servant of God!
>> Read Upsherin Part 1: A Jewish Boy’s First Haircut
By Rabbi Mayer Smith
Upsherin Part 2 Sources:
1 Vayikra 19:27
2 Shu”t Arugat Habosem 210
3 Shu”t Maharam Brisk 2:98 and Sefer Shefa Chaim Michtivei Torah 5:357
