Q&A: Haircut
Haircut
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Is the prohibition of rounding the corners of the head included in a graduated haircut—for example, 1 on the lower part and 3 on the upper part?
2) Is Tikkun Chatzot at night an obligation or a custom that is not binding?
Answer
- It does not depend on the grading. The prohibition is local. There is a certain length that is forbidden regardless of what exists in other places.
2. A custom, which nowadays almost nobody practices.
Discussion on Answer
What does this have to do with our times? What has changed from earlier times in this regard? Whatever validity it always had, it still has today as well.
Hello Rabbi,
Rabbi, what do you mean by a local prohibition—on the lower part? And what is the forbidden length?
Local, meaning it is measured for each hair separately. Therefore the question of grading is irrelevant. If there is a length x in one place, that changes nothing regarding the length in another place.
As for the length, there are disputes, and I do not have my own position. You can find overviews online. A discussion on this also came up here on the site in recent days.
Why did they invent this custom?
Does it have any sensible validity in our times? And why?