Why Do Some Jewish Men Have Sidelocks?
You may have noticed in Orthodox Jewish communities that many men and boys have long curled sideburns that hang down. These are called peyot.
Peyot are based off the rabbinical interpretation of Leviticus 19:27: “You shall not round off the hair on your temples (literally translated as ‘corners of your heads’ - פְּאַת רֹאשְׁכֶם) or mar the edges of your beard.”
The Talmud (a central rabbinical text of Judaism) further defined “peyot” to mean the hair in front of the ears extending beneath the cheekbone. And the Mishnah (another major rabbinical text) further concluded this command was for men only.
Hence, in some Jewish circles, men will allow the hair behind their ears grow and hang in curls. Having peyot is considered to be fulfilling a mitzvah (good deed).
As with many traditions in Judaism, the style of peyot varies greatly. Men in some Jewish sects trim their peyot; some do not. Some men let them hang over their ears, while some men tuck them behind or under a yarmulke/kippah . . . and some men even wrap them around their ears!
Even in communities where peyot are not customary among the adult men in their community, some young boys grow them after their first haircut at age three up until their bar mitzvah (at age 13).
Our purpose in sharing these tidbits is not to imply that these traditions have to be followed by believers in Jesus/Messianic Jews, but in order to help others better learn about and understand their Jewish neighbors and friends so that they can better build bridges and connections with them.