November 9, 2006
November 8, 2006
The role of facial hair in Jewish tradition
Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. (Leviticus 19:27)
Although the ancient Hebrews from the Biblical era up untill the second Temple period sported beards, shaving was not forbidden . The Talmud discusses the prohibition of shaving with a razer, however scissors and other non razors were permitted though they too were probably (?) discouraged. The Romans were apparently the first in the “modern world” who instituted the practice of shaving as a sign of nobility and aristocracy. As can be evidenced by the roman busts, most Roman emperors were clean shaven . Of course the Roman culture had a strong influence on the Judean way of life. The Talmud discusses a Jewish Rabbi, Reuven Itztrobli (?) who donned Roman dress in order to liason in favor of the Jews in Rome.
The first Rabbis or Jewish spiritual leaders who did away with the beard were apparently those of Rennaisance era Italy. The Italian Rabbis (some of whom were well too enlightened for their pious fellow rabbis in Europe and Eretz Israel, some like De Rossi were banned) They explained the reason, the gist of which was was they felt themselves unworthy to grow a beard in their spiritual state, especially since they dwelled outside the land of Israel . A not very illogical argument which would apply all the more (especially) today since beards are mostly worn by spiritual leaders, therefore this worthy concept should not be cheapened by unworthy people.One of the more well known and highly respected Italian Jewish figures who apparently did not wear a beard is the very eminent Kabbalist Rabbi Menachem Azarya of Fano . Although some later argued that this was not true (See argument mentioned by Rabbi Chaim Elazar of Munkac (known as Minchat Elazar) and others). Apparently neither did the Ramchal Luzatto (at least for a while) and that was one of the complaints leveled against him.(My next post will deal with the practice of growing sidelocks (Peyot) and its origins).
Sephardim and Ashkenazim communities in history; friction and cooperation.
Large concentrations of the 2 groups living in close proximity to each other was something that was pretty unusual up untill the creation of the State of Israel.
Such communities were once to be found in Amsterdam, parts of Italy and in England.
There were also smaller Sephardic communties in Eastern Europe that eventually assimilated within the dominant Ashkenazi communties in Transylvania (Particularly Dej, Carei and Cluj) and in Poland. Romania actually managed to keep intact a completely separate Sephardic community up untill the Holocaust (see Geller, Hasefardim asher b’Romania)
Friction and cooperation between the sides.
The case of Spinoza and Acosta in Amsterdam were one of the few instances where the 2 communities cooperated with each other but the general attitude was one of mutual wariness and often open hostility.
There was a strict takana in the Amsterdam Sephardic kehilla against patronizing Ashkenazi merchants for example.
So we see that there is a long history of friction as well as cooperation between the 2 streams (yes streams)of Judaism.
Your input.
Welcome to this blog!
I am a Jewish college student in my early 20′s with a passionate interest or should I say love for Jewish history, Genealogy, Archaeology and other related subjects.
My major is of course history but I am also highly interested in alternative medicine, as well as the arts, journalism, broadcasting, sociology anthropology and more.
I hope to correspond on this blog with like minded individuals and learn more about the subjects being discussed as well as impart some of my own knowledge.
