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The Beard

By Aron Moss

Question:

I have often wondered why many religious Jews have long hairy beards. Is this, like the kipah, a means of identifying oneself as a Jew or do the beards serve some other purpose?

Answer:

There is more to the beard than just identifying as a Jew. According to Kabbalah the beard should not even be trimmed, but should be allowed to grow freely. Why?

Kabbalistically, our outer physical appearance is a reflection of our inner spiritual reality. The hands represent our ability to give and receive. The feet symbolize the power to progress. What does the beard represent?

One of the greatest struggles in life is to live up to our ideals. Many of us know what is right in our minds, but find it difficult to apply that knowledge in our daily lives. Often we do things that we know are wrong, but feel we "couldn't help ourselves". For example, we know that it is wrong to lose our temper, but when we get annoyed at someone we find it impossible to control our anger. Or we may know that it is good to give charity, but never get around to actually giving.

Between theory and practice there is a huge gulf. It is one thing to have good intentions, but that is far from actually doing good. It is like realizing a dream; without diligence, determination and hard work, it will always remain just a dream.

The greatest step we can take in our personal growth is learning to bridge this gap and implement our good intentions.

This is what the beard represents. The beard is hair that grows down from the head to the rest of the body. It is the bridge between mind and heart, thoughts and actions, theory and practice, good intentions and good deeds.

So we don't cut the beard, but rather let it flow freely, to open a direct flow from the ideals and philosophies of our minds into our everyday lifestyle.

10 Comments

By Aron Moss More articles... |

Rabbi Aron Moss teaches Kabbalah, Talmud and practical Judaism in Sydney, Australia, and is a frequent contributor to Chabad.org.

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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:

Posted: Jan 17, 2012

Convert

I have a child who has beautiful hair, during times of stress he begins to pluck his hair out. I would tell him over and over again not to pluck because it may cause negative reactions at school. People, especially children can be very mean. He continued plucking. This was when I was a beardless and bald man. I have within the last year actively pursued Judaism in order to live a life pleasing to the Lord instead of mortals and their wavering variations of righteousness. Even before deciding to convert I wanted a beard but could not grow one because I was so nerve wrecked about what people thought about my appearance. So I would straight razor shave my face daily. Shaving my face would cause major razor bumps, take a lot of my time and show people that I am, in my opinion, a slave to my own narcissism. I knew well before I began conversion that I was supposed to wear a beard and now I do. Since I have stopped obsessing over my appearance so has my son stopped plucking.

Posted By James

Posted: May 30, 2011

Christian Jew

I have recently been tracing more and more roots back into Judaism, and finding that most of Christianity is anti-semetic in nature and doctrine. I base my walk on the word and spirit of the LORD, but feel extremely inadequate to understand the torah without having any Jewish background. Thank you for your insights into this manner. I have been growing my beard for 9 months, and have found it has produced humility, maturity, separation from worldliness, and solemnity for obedience to the law (not just fear, but also willingness). "if you do these things, it shall be well with you." I would love to learn more about this.

Posted By Jacob Lorang, Walla Walla , WA

Posted: June 25, 2010

Thank You

Thank you for explainging this. As one in the process of converting to Judaism, I have always wondered why beards were custom in Jewish custom, however no one would give me a straight answer. Thank you again. Shalom.

Posted By Joshua Edwards, Fridley, MN

Posted: Dec 23, 2009

for Tzvi Jacobs

I had the same thing happen to me, and I felt weaker and actual had on 3 separate instances it happen, immediate financial 'wake up calls'. I think Tzvi Freeman is playing 'devil's advocate' with the how can you know it's your psychology or actual flow of divine energy --- if he really believed that, why isn't he an agnostic? There is no question in my mind that a beard adds to one's spiritual strength, and not only do I see it in myself, but when I look at other's I see it in them. The 13 Attributes of Mercy is not a small thing, and ever since I had a beard I've had much chesed showered upon me, financially, even though I didn't change my financial ways at the time, I was giving tremendous tzedakah before and Be'ezrat Hashem will still be able to. Grow the beard, do not trim it, and don't listen to anyone who tells you to --- it is a major boost to one's spirituality. I've been told that I have told by very holy people that I have special insight. Grow the beard, be proud yet humble!

Posted By m m z , New York

Posted: Nov 11, 2009

What about the Torah?

Doesn't the Torah say in Vayikra 19:27) not to trim the sides of our beards? So it would seem that it would be a sin to trim the beard, not only something where we feel spiritually weakened by it (because we of course feel spiritually weakened by sin).

@Tzvi When Shimshon cut his hair, he was violating his Nazirite vow, and disobeying G-d's command to his mother: "No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to G-d from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines."

Posted By Tyler Kocheran, Escondido, CA

Posted: Aug 21, 2009

For Tzvi Jacobs in Monsey

It's true that the beard is a conduit for blessings and strength from Above. On the other hand, I would be very surprised if a person could so openly feel the difference. How can you ever know whether it's your own psychology or an actual flow of divine energy?

Posted By Tzvi Freeman, Thornhill, Ontario

Posted: July 31, 2009

Is cutting the beard akin to Shimshon cutting his

From a Lubavitcher/frum person:
Years ago when I trimmed my beard, I felt weaker spiritually. Is there any validity to this feeling al pe kabbalah? ie, is it akin to Shimshon after his hair was cut?

Posted By tzvi jacobs, monsey, NY

Posted: Mar 17, 2009

Thank you

Wonderful Site! Thanks for the insights into aspects of the Jewish Faith. Now, I am only 99.9999% ignorant.

Posted By Jim Johnson, Carlsbad, NM/USA

Posted: May 2, 2007

Women are regarded as more spiritually elevated in Judaism. They do not need the outer physical connection of the beard to help with their inner because they have the connection between body and mind without it. This has nothing to do with men are better. In fact, it's almost the opposite.

Posted By Anonymous

Posted: Apr 23, 2007

Jewish women

So if the jewish men have beards that represent good thoughts. Does that mean Jewish women are bad? Because they don't have beards. What's up with that?

Posted By Liliana

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	Why Do I Need a "Hebrew Name"?


	Wipe Out Amalek, Today?


	Services Every Week?!

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