What Is the Biblical and Religious Significance of Peyos?

Peyos (singular: Pe’ah) are the sidelocks worn by Orthodox Jewish men to fulfill the biblical commandment in Leviticus 19:27: “You shall not round off the corners of your head.”

While the Torah prohibits shaving this area with a razor, the custom of growing them long serves as a visible affirmation of Jewish identity and distinction from idolaters.

This article explores the Halachic foundation, the diversity of styles across communities, and the mystical teachings that have shaped this distinctive practice.

Why do different communities wear different styles of Peyos?

The style of Peyos acts as a sociological identifier, known in some traditions as Simanim (Signs).

Yemenite Jews

Yemenite Jews wear long, twisted locks called Simanim to distinguish themselves from local cultures. In Yemen, these sidelocks were a visible badge of Jewish identity, maintained proudly even under persecution.

Hasidic Jews

Hasidic communities (such as Belz, Breslov, and Satmar) grow their Peyos long to emphasize mystical devotion. The specific style often indicates the particular Hasidic dynasty:

• Curled Peyos: Common in Hungarian and Galician Hasidic groups
• Straight, tucked Peyos: Found in some Polish Hasidic traditions
• Extremely long Peyos: Characteristic of certain Jerusalem-based groups

Litvish (Lithuanian) Jews

Lithuanian Jews often tuck short strands behind the ear. This style focuses strictly on the Halachic minimum without drawing external attention, reflecting the Litvish emphasis on practical observance over visible demonstration.

What is the Kabbalistic significance of long Peyos?

In Kabbalah, hair represents “conduits” of divine energy.

The Arizal’s teaching

The Arizal (Rabbi Isaac Luria) taught that Peyos correspond to the mystical channels of Arich Anpin (The Long Face/Patience), representing a flow of divine intellect into the emotions.

According to this teaching:

• Uncut Peyos are viewed as “antennae” for spiritual sensitivity
• They serve as a separation between the brain (intellect) and the jaw (physical consumption)
• They channel divine light from the higher sefirot (emanations) into the soul

The spiritual symbolism

This mystical framework explains why certain Hasidic groups emphasize never cutting the Peyos at all, viewing each strand as a channel for divine blessing.

“The Peyos are not merely a law to be followed, but a garment of light connecting the mind to the heart.”

What are the minimum requirements for Peyos?

The Halachic zone for Peyos is precisely defined.

The geographic boundaries

The area extends from the hairline above the forehead down to the bottom of the ear (or the jawbone joint). This corresponds to the temporal bone area, bounded by:

• The forehead hairline (upper boundary)
• The ear tragus (lower boundary)

The minimum length

According to the Shulchan Aruch, the minimum requirement is to leave hair long enough to be bent back toward its root.

The minimum length is approximately 4mm, preventing the appearance of total baldness in the “corner” zone.

What is prohibited

• Shaving the area completely with a razor
• Using a blade that cuts at skin level
• Creating the appearance of “rounding” the corners of the head

Electric shavers that do not cut at skin level are permitted by many authorities for the rest of the face, but even they may not be used in the Peyos zone according to stricter opinions.

Did Jews always wear long Peyos?

Historically, the length of Peyos varied by geography and persecution levels.

Temple times to the Middle Ages

In ancient times, the commandment was observed by simply not shaving the area. Long, visible Peyos were not universal.

The Russian persecution

In 1845, Tzar Nicholas I of Russia banned Peyos as part of a campaign to force Jewish assimilation. Jews were forced to hide them, tuck them behind their ears, or face punishment. This period paradoxically strengthened the attachment to visible Peyos as an act of defiance.

Yemenite preservation

In Islamic lands, particularly Yemen, Jews emphasized long Peyos as a badge of pride and distinction from their Muslim neighbors. The Yemenite tradition preserved styles that may have been more common in ancient times.

The Kabbalistic influence

The modern “long curl” style is largely a post-17th-century development, influenced by the spread of Lurianic Kabbalah (the teachings of the Arizal). As mystical teachings emphasized the spiritual significance of uncut hair, communities that embraced these ideas began growing their Peyos longer.

The Upsherin ceremony

A boy receives his first Peyos at his Upsherin, the traditional hair-cutting ceremony held at age three.

Before this age, a boy’s hair is often left uncut. At three years old:

• The hair is cut for the first time
• The Peyos are left in place, marking the beginning of the child’s formal Jewish education
• The ceremony often includes beginning to wear a Kippah and Tzitzit

This milestone connects the physical growth of Peyos to the spiritual growth of the child.

Conclusion

Peyos are far more than a hairstyle. They are a visible fulfillment of Torah law, a marker of communal identity, and for many, a conduit for spiritual connection.

From the Yemenite Simanim to the Hasidic curls to the modest Litvish tuck, each style tells a story of history, devotion, and the Jewish commitment to being a “distinct nation.”

Whether worn simply to fulfill the Halachic minimum or cultivated long as mystical antennae, Peyos remain one of the most recognizable symbols of Orthodox Jewish identity.