Hayom Yom 4 Iyar - Opsherenesh is an important Jewish custom

Day 19 of the Omerמִנְהַג יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא לְגַלֵּחַ וְשֶׁלֹּא לְסַפֵּר שַׂעֲרוֹת רֹאשׁ תִּינוֹק עַד מְלֹאת לוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִיםIt is a Jewish custom not to trim or cut a boy’s hair until he is fully three years old.גְזִיזַת הַשְּׂעָרוֹת — אָפּשׁעֶרעֶנעֶש (שֶׁל תִּינוֹק) — הוּא דָבָר גָּדוֹל בְּמִנְהֲגֵי יִשְׂרָאֵלCutting the boy’s hair at that time — an opsherenesh — is an important Jewish custom,וְעִקָּרוֹ הוּא בְּהַחִנּוּךְ דְּהַשְׁאָרַת פֵּאוֹת הָרֹאשׁwhose main aim is to educate the child to leave his payos [uncut].וּמִיּוֹם הַגְּזִיזָה וַהֲנָחַת פֵּאוֹת הָרֹאשׁFrom the time of his [first] haircut, when the peyos are left uncut,נָהֲגוּ לְהַדֵּר לְהַרְגִּיל אֶת הַתִּינוֹקthe custom is to make a point of training the childבְּעִנְיַן נְשִׂיאַת טַלִּית קָטָןto wear a tallis katan, וּבִרְכוֹת הַשַּׁחַרand to recite the Morning Blessings,וּבִרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹןthe Grace after Meals,וּקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע שֶׁעַל הַמִּטָּהand the Prayer before Retiring at Night.Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in EnglishFor questions and follow-up: [email protected]