Re: Upsherin (cutting hair of 3 yr old)

Goldmeier (gldmeier@actcom.co.il)
Tue, 15 Jul 1997 05:18:47 +0300

"Avery Kornbluth" <averyk@lehman.com> wrote:
<< By cutting his hair we are enabling him to perform the mitzva of having
'payot' (not cutting the corners of his head hair) for the first time. Many
people also do not let the boy wear a yarlmuka until after his first
haircut. >>

Why can this not be done without the upsherin? What is the problem with
cutting a childs hair at age 2 and leaving his payos and giving him a
yarmulke at age 2 or3 and tztitzis also at age 2 or 3 or whenever. Why is
the custom to wait till 3? Many qoute the "man is compared to a tree and
orlah for the 1st 3 years...." reason. But why the hair? Why not the
fingernails? Dont cut the fingernails the first 3 years? Or maybe dont give
the kid a bath the first 3 years?

Why the hair?

Rafi
gldmeier@actcom.co.il