Thread by @ZechariahSharab

🧵on sidelocks פאות

1) The first question I always get when travelling in the West is why we grow long sidelocks?

The short answer is: it's not a fashion statement but rather an ancient Jewish tradition dating back at least 3,000 years

But there is much more to it...

2) The source for sidelocks in the Torah is in Leviticus 19:27

You shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard

לֹ֣א תַקִּ֔פוּ פְּאַ֖ת רֹאשְׁכֶ֑ם וְלֹ֣א תַשְׁחִ֔ית אֵ֖ת פְּאַ֥ת זְקָנֶֽךָ

3) The Mishna and Talmud discussed various opinions as to the definition of the "corner of the head"

The rationale was to differentiate from idol worshippers who shaved the side of their heads at the time

Yemeni and Hassidic Jews would let their sidelocks grow particularly long

4) We have evidence of sidelocks from the 5th Century via the Jewish Himyarite Kingdom that ruled #Yemen at the time. The King Yusuf Asar Yathar was nicknamed Dhu Nuwas ذُو نُوَاس which means "The one with sidelocks" in Arabic

Sidelocks are prevalent in Himyarite era coins

5) We also have evidence from several early authentic Islamic scholars

For example, Abdullah ibn Masud عبد الله بن مسعود a companion of Muhammad and one of the most prominent authors of the Hadith claims another of Muhammad's companions is Jewish because he grew 2 sidelocks

6) In #Yemen all Jews grew long sidelocks

This tradition can be seen in pictures and videos of our community from both South and North Yemen

7) Yemenis call sidelocks simonim סימנים which literally means signs or marks

While Ashkenazis do not cut children's hair until age 3, Yemeni Jews follow a different custom, and hence kids start growing out their sidelocks as soon as they are born 👶🏾

8) Contrary to popular belief, this tradition is not limited to Yemeni and Hassidic Jews. Prior to the 20th Century, many Jewish communities across the globe followed this tradition

Here is a picture of a Jew from Cochin #India 🇮🇳 circa 1900

9) Although sidelocks were not common in North Africa in the 1950s, we see them everywhere 20 years earlier. Rav Yoseph Messas said Moroccan Jews traditionally grew sidelocks but stopped due to French influence

A Jew from the Atlas Mountains in #Morocco🇲🇦with long sidelocks

10) And here is a picture of children with sidelocks from Tiznit #Morocco🇲🇦 taken in 1935

11) The influence of Kabbalah (Jewish Mysticism) had an effect on the tradition of sidelocks

The Arizal, a famous 16th C mystical Rabbi, warned that sidelocks should not cover the ears

This influence can be seen on Rabbi Haim Doweck of Allepo #Syria 🇸🇾 who had shorter sidelocks

12) The same can be seen in early pictures from Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 where Jews grew short sidelocks and shaved the rest of their hair

13) In the Hassidic world sidecurls are a very strong tradition. The Belz Rebbe had a famous saying in Yiddish that longer sidecurls showcase one's fear of God

14) Even within the Hassidic world, there are somewhat different traditions

Satmar Hassidim have a tradition to grow thicker sidecurls

15) Bresolv Hassidim grow very long sidecurls

This is based on the mystical teaching of Rabbi Nachman of Breslev that one who grows long sidecurls will be pulled out of the hellfire only if they are long enough 🔥

16) Even if you think someone doesn't have sidecurls, look closely!

Lithuanian Jews (non Hassidic) typically fold their sidelocks behind their ears

17) Today in #Israel, sidecurls are very popular and can be seen everywhere

For example, on the Israeli version of "American Idol"

18) Even on some news anchors, something which would have been unimaginable a decade ago

19) It's also interesting to see the tradition of sidecurls being adopted by communities that did not originally have this custom

Popular #Ethiopian Rabbi Baruch Gezhayi

20) So hopefully the next time you see someone with sidecurls you won't think it's strange! 🙏🏾