[Avodah] "Yeshivishe Payes"

[Danny Schoemann]

Somebody asked on Areivim about Yeshivishe Payes [sic].

Lately there's been a growing trend to tuck some hair behind your
ears; either as a Zeicher to Payesor as a public declaration that
you're an Am Ha'Aretz.

The Mishna in Makos 3:5 and commentators there explain the halachic
boundaries of Payos.
SA YD 181 ("Kippa") codifies it.
Mishna Brura repeats it in the Biur Halocho at the end of 251.

There's no hair on your forehead. There's none behind your ears. The
hair in between that space are the Payes - all the way to the bottom
of your skull (where your jawbone is connected)

So Payes exist in this triangle: the top "corner" of your forehead -
top of your ear - bottom of your skull.

This entire area has the same Din. The question is what is the Din -
and there are various opinions:
- You shouldn't cut any hair in that area. Once it grows below that
area you may trim it. (Must trim it - Arizal [BLY, SA YD])

- You may not cut it too short. Never figured out what too short
is.Various unclear explanations.

You obviously may not use a razor on that area - it's more stringent
than the beard area.

Everything else is "fashion"; tucking behind the ear vs. let it hand
loose; curling them...

Oxymoron:
- Untrimmed beard & trimmed Payes.
- Payes behind ear and trimmed Sideburns

Hope that gives a starting point for your research,

- Danny