Most rabbis of the modern era opposed growing a prominent forelock of hair at the front of the head—what's often called "choop."
The Tosefta prohibits such hairstyles as darchei ha’Emori, a form of cultural imitation rooted in non-Jewish practices.
Nearly a century ago, one rabbi in Jerusalem took this very seriously. He authored a sefer titled "Da Gezeiras Oraisah" ("This Is a Torah Decree"), in which he argued that growing a blorit is a full d’oraita (biblical) prohibition.
But in a rare annotated copy of the sefer—personally owned by the Chazon Ish—a surprising handwritten comment appears.
The Chazon Ish notes that the prohibition applies only if the hairstyle is grown with intent to imitate non-Jews. If it’s simply a form of personal grooming—then "there is no biblical transgression."
He concludes: “Those who fear Heaven should be modest… but this is not included in ‘You shall not follow their statutes.’”
A sharp, subtle distinction—captured in the margin of a little-known sefer, by one of the greatest halachic minds of the 20th century.
4 comments:
What would he say about today’s fad? The faze
And what about the Hasidic custom for men to shave their heads like גלחים, like old Xtian monks, Buddhist monks today? Is that Jewish?
Hasidic women too, but that is another discussion.
The Beur Halacha in Mishna Berurah 27:15 brings a Machtzis Hashekel that says it's דרך שחץ וגאוה
This is standard UO behaviour
1) Notice something good or nice the goyim are doing
2) Start doing it.
3) Deny it has any origin with the goyim but is instead from Sinai
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