Why Some Jews Have Sidelocks

The Torah Says: Don’t Round the Corners of Your Head

Peyot (sidelocks) come from the Torah’s command “Do not round the corners of your head” (Leviticus 19:27) — interpreted by many Orthodox Jews as a prohibition on cutting the hair at the temples. The long, visible sidelocks worn by Hasidic and some other Orthodox Jews are a deliberate, proud fulfillment of this biblical commandment.

You have probably seen them — the curled or hanging locks of hair framing the faces of Orthodox Jewish men and boys. They are called peyot (also spelled payot or peyes in Yiddish), and they are one of the most visually distinctive markers of traditional Jewish identity. But peyot are not mere fashion. They are a physical expression of Torah observance that connects the wearer to a commandment given over three thousand years ago.

The Biblical Source

The commandment comes from Leviticus 19:27: “You shall not round the pe’at (corners/edges) of your head, nor shall you destroy the pe’at of your beard.”

The Hebrew word pe’ah (plural: pe’ot) means “corner” or “edge.” The verse prohibits rounding — that is, cutting — the hair at the corners of the head. But where exactly are these “corners”?

The Talmud (Makkot 20a) identifies the pe’ot of the head as the area of the temples — the region between the ear and the forehead on each side. Jewish law prohibits completely removing the hair in this zone with a razor. The question of exactly how much hair must remain, and what methods of cutting are forbidden, has been the subject of extensive rabbinic discussion.

What the Law Actually Requires

The minimum legal requirement is relatively modest: a man must not completely shave the hair at his temples with a razor. According to most authorities, as long as some hair remains in the temple area, the commandment is fulfilled. This means that:

• Most Orthodox Jewish men fulfill the commandment simply by having normal sideburns. Their peyot are there — they are just not long or conspicuous.
• The long, visible peyot associated with Hasidic and some other ultra-Orthodox communities go far beyond the legal minimum. They represent a practice of hiddur mitzvah — beautifying and enhancing a commandment beyond what is strictly required.

Styles Across Communities

The diversity of peyot styles is remarkable:

Hasidic Peyot

Different Hasidic groups have distinctive peyot traditions:

• Curled and hanging: Some communities grow their peyot long and curl them into tight ringlets that hang in front of the ears.
• Tucked behind the ears: Others grow long peyot but tuck them discreetly behind the ears or under their hats.
• Twisted: Some twist their peyot into a single cord-like strand on each side.
• The specific style often identifies which Hasidic group the wearer belongs to — Satmar, Breslov, Lubavitch, and others each have recognizable variations.

Yemenite Peyot

Yemenite Jews have one of the most distinctive peyot traditions. Known as simanim (“signs”), Yemenite peyot are typically long, thin, corkscrew-shaped curls that hang in front of the ears. This style has been maintained for centuries and represents one of the oldest continuous peyot traditions in the Jewish world.

Modern Orthodox

Most Modern Orthodox men keep their hair trimmed neatly and fulfill the commandment with standard sideburns. Peyot are present but not conspicuous — blending with contemporary hairstyles while still observing the law.

Upsherin: The First Haircut

One of the most joyful ceremonies connected to peyot is the upsherin (also called chalake in Sephardi communities) — a boy’s first haircut, traditionally given at age three. Until this age, a boy’s hair is allowed to grow freely. Then, at a festive celebration:

• Family and friends each cut a small snip of the child’s hair
• The peyot are carefully preserved while the rest of the hair is cut
• The boy often receives his first kippah and begins learning the Hebrew alphabet
• It marks the symbolic transition from infancy to the beginning of Torah education

The upsherin is widely practiced in Hasidic communities, increasingly popular in Modern Orthodox circles, and observed by some Sephardi families under the name chalake. In Israel, a popular upsherin destination is the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron.

Why Go Beyond the Minimum?

If the law only requires not shaving the temples completely, why do so many Jews grow their peyot long and visible? Several reasons:

• Hiddur mitzvah: The principle of beautifying commandments encourages going beyond the bare minimum.
• Jewish identity: Visible peyot are an unmistakable declaration of Jewish identity and Torah commitment. They say: I am Jewish, and I am not hiding it.
• Community belonging: Within Hasidic communities, peyot style is a mark of group identity and solidarity.
• Historical defiance: During periods of persecution — from the Spanish Inquisition to Soviet Russia to the Holocaust — Jews were forced to cut their peyot. Growing them proudly today is an act of spiritual resistance and continuity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do women have any obligation regarding peyot?

No. The commandment not to round the corners of the head applies only to men in traditional Jewish law. Women have their own hair-related customs — married women in Orthodox communities cover their hair — but these are based on different sources and carry different meanings. The Torah verse about pe’ot is addressed specifically to males.

Can a man use scissors instead of a razor on his sideburns?

Yes — most authorities permit trimming the temple area with scissors, as the prohibition specifically targets razor-shaving that completely removes the hair. Electric trimmers that cut like scissors (rather than as close as a razor) are also generally permitted. This is why many Orthodox men who keep short, neat sideburns are still fully observing the commandment.

Why do some non-Hasidic Orthodox Jews not have visible peyot?

Because the law does not require visible, long sidelocks — it requires only that the hair at the temples not be completely shaved with a razor. A man with ordinary sideburns is fully compliant. The choice to grow long, visible peyot is a custom (minhag) and an enhancement, not a baseline requirement. Different communities have different traditions about how prominently to display them.

Corners of Identity

Peyot may seem like a small thing — a few locks of hair at the temples. But they carry enormous weight. They are a daily, visible commitment to a commandment older than most civilizations. They connect a Hasidic boy in Brooklyn to a Yemenite elder in San’a to a medieval scholar in Prague, all the way back to the words spoken at Sinai. And in a world that often pressures people to conform and blend in, peyot are a quiet, persistent declaration: this is who I am, and I am not rounding any corners.