[Avodah] Why are beards considered so choshuv?

[rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com]

RTK
> Obviously in Litvishe circles where all the bachurim go beardless,
> they are not concerned that being beardless is "effeminate." But even
> in those circles, men are strongly encouraged to grow their beards after
> marriage, when they need to appear more adult and less juvenile.

A few minor quibbles
And some "factoids"

Litvisher bachurim traditionally had long sideburns [think of some civil
war pictures].

AIUI, the hakpadah of "lo silbash" may be avoided by having ANY masculine
facial hair
EG mustache, long sideburns, goatees, etc.

Thus many litvisher and yekkisher rabbonim had limited facial hair,
but were NOT quite clean shaven either -- the way eino-yehudim are.

For a litivisher bachur to grow a full beard was conisdered "yuhara".
And RHS only grew his beard in the wake of the passing of his rebbe RYDS.
[I am admittedly presuming cause and effect here]

And AIUI the Arizal was machhmir not to cut ANY facial hair at
all. [Except perhaps to trim the mustache as needed]

KT
RRW
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