Help Guys!! --- When Religion and Personal Style Collide!!

[pdxtodd]

Hi Fred,

Your posts sent me on an investigative trail.  A very interesting topic albeit highly confusing.   I found one reference where the common people shaved their heads with the exception of their sideburns, in order to distinguish themselves from royalty.   Personally I would follow the direction of what your Rabbi says.   Go to the expert.   I found so many interpretations of the verses that it was confusing.  Another option is to pray about it and follow your heart. 

[crazy.irish.celt]

Straight from Wikipedia: Beard (I don't consider it a very credible source, but it's a start...)

Because scissors have two blades, some opinions in halakha (Jewish law) permit their use to trim the beard, as the cutting action comes from contact of the two blades and not the blade against the skin. For this reason, most poskim (Jewish legal deciders) rule that Orthodox Jews may use electric razors to remain cleanshaven, as such shavers cut by trapping the hair between the blades and the metal grating, halakhically a scissor-like action. Some prominent contemporary poskim[who?] maintain that electric shavers constitute a razor-like action and consequently prohibit their use.

Here we have a classic, legalistic debate about the interpretation of religious text.  Some say yay, others say nay. Apparently it is not a cut-and-dry issue.  If no one has approached you from a legalistic standpoint, then all negative reactions are probably rooted in the aesthetic appeal of your new look.  It's simply not what they are accustomed to.

I would encourage you to do what will make you feel the best about yourself.  A person who is confident in their appearance generally exudes that confidence in every other aspect of their lives.  I think it will make you happier. If no one has approached you and offered criticism (other than family) or discouraged you from attending services or functions within your religious community, I'd say you're never gonna have any problems other than those you create in your head.

[tomgallagher]

It's a shame that your religion, which is supposed to give you peace of mind and a calmness of spirit is instead causing you so much mental anguish and depression. As long as you are at peace with yourself and God than so be it and no man made rules and regulations (and all the religions have them) have the right to interfere with that. IMO.

[xnewyawka]

It's a shame that your religion, which is supposed to give you peace of mind and a calmness of spirit is instead causing you so much mental anguish and depression. As long as you are at peace with yourself and God than so be it and no man made rules and regulations (and all the religions have them) have the right to interfere with that. IMO.

I'm with you on that Tom.     

[DuffRyder17]

personally for me dude. I wish I had a thick beard. So I vote beard, all they way

[D.A.L.U.I.]

I have made up my mind I am now at this moment going to the bathroom and will one again shave my head and will grow a beard I will post my pics tommorow and will post more pics as my beard grows in.  Problem solved.   

I think that this will work out very well indeed, comply with the Law, live with yourself--this is a plan. 

[aarrggh]

 And go through life projecting how "stunning" you look like another fellow member does..

  ( whos name escapes me at the moment )   

[buddha]

My understanding is that unless you are Hasidic sideburns are entirely optional. Even Orthodox Jews do not adhere strictly to this rule across the board. In my travels I have been privileged to meet a number of Rabbis, none of which I recall having noticeable peyos.
Someone mentioned earlier speaking to your Rabbi. I think this is wise counsel. What the Rabbi tells you will be in accordance with law. What everyone else tells you is mere opinion.

[chgobuzzbald]

Im had to chime in and dont mean to sound harsh BUT most of the non-sense in Leviticus is why a nice Jewish boy like Jesus came to present a different, more evolved and benevolent point of view... Leviticus is full of crazy ideas that make no sense in a world where most are educated and few are illiterate...think it about 2000 or 3000 thousand years ago few were educated and most were illiterate. Dont let any religious people control and threaten you in this day and age with a version of a bitchy, moody, petty God that turns people into pillars of salt...come on Dude !

[marcx]

Interesting thread...

I am Jewish too but not quite as "orthodox" a follower so I never even thought of this issue...it's funny how everyone personalizes religion--I would never get a tattoo even if I wanted one due to religious regions, but shaving my head was never even a thought....

Anyway Fred I hope whatever you decide leaves you happy both spiritually and otherwise...

[marshd1000]

I think Fred will find that since it looks like he would have a thick beard, that it will go well with his sly noggin.  Also, while I can't find the pictures, I know that there is a conservative talk show host that has been on the air in Seattle named, Rabbi Daniel Lapin.  In the past when I have seen pics of him, it looked like he had a full beard and shaved head.  But I have never seen a pic of him with out some kind of head covering.  But he is a possible sly Rabbi.

[pdxtodd]

Good find Marsh -- http://www.rabbidaniellapin.com/

[Rusty Shackleford]

It's a shame that you've run into this problem because you look like you were created at the genetic level to have a shaved head.  That's how well it suits you.  And that goatee you've started in your avatar gives me serious beard envy.  You ought to at least give the full beard look a try, and from what I read here it sounds like you're at least free to keep those hairs short.

The following might sound like a rant against religion, but I find faith a very admirable and I am certainly not one of those who claim that traditional organized religions (Judism, Christianity, Islam, etc) are wrong because *I* have personally discovered a truth billions of others never discovered but...


This kind of stuff about organized religions bugs the hell out of me.


First off, a lot of comments here (like mine) are based on how to skirt around the problem.  Anyone else notice how funny it is that we're suggesting ways to find a loophole around a rule imposed by the Almighty, because He can create the universe but won't notice the insincerity in skirting some arbitrary rule?

Second, most of these kinds of strange rules seem more symbolic and/or cultural in nature than godly in nature.  They look like a joke, and do little more than make issues of eternal importance (the existance a God, the religion or religions that are actually true, the purpose of man, etc...) into a joke too. Telling people they must keep a beard in a certain style, wear a specific piece of clothing, or follow some other completely superficial custom completely dissuades millions from the substance of the religion.  Like someone else said, don't religion and God have more important things to worry about?  Seriously, when the trimming of a person's sideburns is considered as important as a person's treatment of another then that religion has a serious problem if you ask me.

[Bilko1]

"...For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b)

There were a few bald prophets in ancient times and the Lord say's nothing against this, so what's the issue, bro?
God made you to be who you are & not as others "expect" you to be.

[pdxtodd]

God clearly supports bald -- check out 2 Kings 2:23-24    Never cross a bald guy!