For the first three years of life, children absorb their parents’ love. Then, their education takes a leap—they are ready to produce and share their unique gifts. For a Jewish boy, this transition is marked with a haircutting ceremony—an “upsherin” (also called “upshernish” or “chalakah”)—on his third Jewish birthday. This is also the time when he begins to wear a kippah and tzitzit, the hallmarks of a Jewish male.