Sidelocks in English, or pe'ot in Hebrew, anglicized as payot[a] (Hebrew: פֵּאוֹת, romanized: pēʾōt, "corners") or payes (Yiddish pronunciation:[peyes]), is the Hebrew term for sidelocks or sideburns. Payot are worn by some men and boys in the Orthodox Jewish community based on an interpretation of the Tanakh's injunction against shaving the "sides" of one's head. Literally, pe'a means "corner, side, edge". There are different styles of payot among Haredi or Hasidic, Yemenite, and Chardal Jews. Yemenite Jews call their sidelocks simanim (סִימָנִים), literally, "signs", because their long-curled sidelocks served as a distinguishing feature in the Yemenite society (differentiating them from their non-Jewish neighbors).
According to Maimonides, shaving the sidelocks was a heathen practice.[1]
Specifics
The Torah says, "you shall not round off the pe'a of your head (פְּאַת רֹאשְׁכֶם)".[2] The word pe'a was taken to mean the hair in front of the ears extending to beneath the cheekbone, on a level with the nose (Talmud – Makkot 20a).[3] The Mishnah interpreted the regulation as applying only to men. Thus it became the custom in certain circles to allow the hair over the ears to grow, and hang down in curls or ringlets.[4] There is considerable discussion in the halachic literature as to the precise location of the payot and of the ways in which their removal is prohibited.[5]
Jewish haircut (1657)
Specifics by communities
As kabbalistic teachings spread into Slavonic lands, the custom of pe'ot became accepted there. In 1845, the practice was banned in the Russian Empire.[4]
Crimean Karaites did not wear payot, and the Crimean Tatars consequently referred to them as zulufsız çufutlar ("Jews without payot"), to distinguish them from the Krymchaks, referred to as zuluflı çufutlar ("Jews with payot").[6]
Many Hasidic and Yemenite ("Teimani") Jews let their sidelocks grow particularly long. Some Haredi men grow sidelocks, but trim them or tuck them behind the ears.[6]
The lengths and maintenance of the pe'ot vary noticeably among Jewish groups.
Yemenite Jews
Some traditional Yemenite Jews still wear distinctive long and thin twisted locks, often reaching to the upper arm. The actual area where the hair grows and where the ringlet begins is neat and tidy.
Hasidic groups
Satmar Jews have notably thicker sidelocks. They also tend to tuck their sidelocks behind their ears.
Belz Hasidim wrap their sidelocks around their ears as many times as necessary without trimming.
Many Breslov Hasidim wear long twisted locks as did their Rabbi, Nachman of Breslov. However, others wear different styles in line with the teaching of Rabbi Nachman that his followers do not have to have a uniform garb.[7]
The Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidim's payot are not evident, but they exist. So long as there is hair around the ear and behind it that can be plucked out, that is considered payot.
Some Gerer Hasidim raise their sidelocks from the temples and tuck them under their yarmulke. Others, especially in Israel, let them hang down.
The Skver Hasidim twist their sidelocks into a tight coil, and leave them protruding in front of the ear.
Most other Hasidic groups wear their payot down and curled.
Lithuanian groups
The Lithuanian Jews are less influenced by Kabbalistic practises, but still retain sidelocks to a degree, in a small number of variant styles:
Lithuanian Jews often cut their sidelocks, but leave a bunch of strands uncut, and place them behind the ear; this style is most commonly found among yeshiva students, who sometimes remove the uncut strands when they have grown sideburns.
The Brisk movement's members brush their hair straight down, usually so that it reaches to the ear lobe; sometimes, some of the sidelock is not cut, and is curled back behind the ear.
Gallery
Pre-bar mitzvah age boy with payot
Religious Jew with beard and payot tucked behind ear
^"Halachos Of Payos Harosh". Yutorah.org. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
^ abWhy do some Chassidic Jews have long sidelocks
^(Sichot Haran?); The Master of Prayer (from Tales of Rabbi Nachman), where the Master is "not particular about garb at all; see [1] for a video showing a variety of styles among Breslevers.
External links
Media related to Payots at Wikimedia Commons
The dictionary definition of payot at Wiktionary
April 12, 2024
payot, confused, with, piyyut, sidelocks, english, hebrew, anglicized, payot, hebrew, או, romanized, pēʾōt, corners, payes, yiddish, pronunciation, peyes, hebrew, term, sidelocks, sideburns, worn, some, boys, orthodox, jewish, community, based, interpretation,. Not to be confused with Piyyut Sidelocks in English or pe ot in Hebrew anglicized as payot a Hebrew פ או ת romanized peʾōt corners or payes Yiddish pronunciation peyes is the Hebrew term for sidelocks or sideburns Payot are worn by some men and boys in the Orthodox Jewish community based on an interpretation of the Tanakh s injunction against shaving the sides of one s head Literally pe a means corner side edge There are different styles of payot among Haredi or Hasidic Yemenite and Chardal Jews Yemenite Jews call their sidelocks simanim ס ימ נ ים literally signs because their long curled sidelocks served as a distinguishing feature in the Yemenite society differentiating them from their non Jewish neighbors Peot פ או ת pe ot ס ימ נ ים simanim Halakhic texts relating to this articleTorah Leviticus 19 27Babylonian Talmud Makkot 20aMishneh Torah Avodath Kokhavim 12 6Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 181 Contents 1 Rabbinic interpretation 1 1 Reason 1 2 Specifics 2 Specifics by communities 3 Styles 3 1 Yemenite Jews 3 2 Hasidic groups 3 3 Lithuanian groups 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References and notes 7 External linksRabbinic interpretationReason According to Maimonides shaving the sidelocks was a heathen practice 1 Specifics The Torah says you shall not round off the pe a of your head פ א ת ר אש כ ם 2 The word pe a was taken to mean the hair in front of the ears extending to beneath the cheekbone on a level with the nose Talmud Makkot 20a 3 The Mishnah interpreted the regulation as applying only to men Thus it became the custom in certain circles to allow the hair over the ears to grow and hang down in curls or ringlets 4 There is considerable discussion in the halachic literature as to the precise location of the payot and of the ways in which their removal is prohibited 5 nbsp Jewish haircut 1657 Specifics by communitiesAs kabbalistic teachings spread into Slavonic lands the custom of pe ot became accepted there In 1845 the practice was banned in the Russian Empire 4 Crimean Karaites did not wear payot and the Crimean Tatars consequently referred to them as zulufsiz cufutlar Jews without payot to distinguish them from the Krymchaks referred to as zulufli cufutlar Jews with payot 6 Many Hasidic and Yemenite Teimani Jews let their sidelocks grow particularly long Some Haredi men grow sidelocks but trim them or tuck them behind the ears 6 Even in some communities where peot are not customary among the men young boys may grow them until the age of bar mitzvah clarification needed citation needed StylesThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed October 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message The lengths and maintenance of the pe ot vary noticeably among Jewish groups Yemenite Jews Some traditional Yemenite Jews still wear distinctive long and thin twisted locks often reaching to the upper arm The actual area where the hair grows and where the ringlet begins is neat and tidy Hasidic groups Satmar Jews have notably thicker sidelocks They also tend to tuck their sidelocks behind their ears Belz Hasidim wrap their sidelocks around their ears as many times as necessary without trimming Many Breslov Hasidim wear long twisted locks as did their Rabbi Nachman of Breslov However others wear different styles in line with the teaching of Rabbi Nachman that his followers do not have to have a uniform garb 7 The Chabad Lubavitch Hasidim s payot are not evident but they exist So long as there is hair around the ear and behind it that can be plucked out that is considered payot Some Gerer Hasidim raise their sidelocks from the temples and tuck them under their yarmulke Others especially in Israel let them hang down The Skver Hasidim twist their sidelocks into a tight coil and leave them protruding in front of the ear Most other Hasidic groups wear their payot down and curled Lithuanian groups The Lithuanian Jews are less influenced by Kabbalistic practises but still retain sidelocks to a degree in a small number of variant styles Lithuanian Jews often cut their sidelocks but leave a bunch of strands uncut and place them behind the ear this style is most commonly found among yeshiva students who sometimes remove the uncut strands when they have grown sideburns The Brisk movement s members brush their hair straight down usually so that it reaches to the ear lobe sometimes some of the sidelock is not cut and is curled back behind the ear Gallery nbsp Pre bar mitzvah age boy with payot nbsp Religious Jew with beard and payot tucked behind ear nbsp A Teimani Yemenite Jew with payot nbsp Young Hasidic man with payot nbsp A religious Jew with payots Jerusalem Israel nbsp An Orthodox man with payotSee also nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Payots 613 mitzvot Shaving in Judaism Upsherin List of hairstylesReferences and notesNotes Also spelled Peot peyot peyes payes payos peyos peyois payois References Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 181 Leviticus 19 27 Shaving in Judaism Judaism about com 2009 06 11 Archived from the original on 2015 01 05 Retrieved 2013 11 10 a b Jewish Encyclopedia Halachos Of Payos Harosh Yutorah org Retrieved 2013 11 10 a b Why do some Chassidic Jews have long sidelocks Sichot Haran The Master of Prayer from Tales of Rabbi Nachman where the Master is not particular about garb at all see 1 for a video showing a variety of styles among Breslevers External links nbsp Media related to Payots at Wikimedia Commons nbsp The dictionary definition of payot at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Payot amp oldid 1180319648, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
