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).

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