Could you please direct me to the root or origin of the sidecurls worn by jewish men?
Hi,
Thanks for asking this question. The answer is that the Torah tells us in Leviticus 19:27, “You shall not round off the edge of your scalp and you shall not destroy the edge of your beard.” What this means practically is that a man may not cut their sideburns above their upper cheek bone. In addition, the rest of the beard may not be shaved using a blade. It may be cut using scissors. That is why some electric razors are OK to use, but the “lift and cut” system would not be good because it lifts the hair up and cuts it like a razor on the skin. There are many sources that tell us that a beard signifies wisdom and that it is better not to shave one’s beard completely. I hope that this answers this question for you.
Be Well,
Rabbi Litt