At Three, a First Haircut – and a New Beginning
EDMONDS — In Judaism, a child’s third birthday signifies the beginning of a new chapter in life. For boys, this milestone often comes with the first haircut.
That’s exactly how Rabbi Zevi and his wife, Leeba Goldberg, marked son Mendel’s third birthday on April 3.
More than 100 people from Goldberg’s Chabad of Snohomish County congregation came to celebrate the occasion.
That was the first time Mendel had his hair cut, in keeping with custom.
“His hair was very long, and now it’s cut. He looks like a different person. And we call him a big boy now,” Goldberg said.
Not all Jews follow this tradition. Goldberg’s congregation is Orthodox.
The first haircut, called Upshernish in Yiddish, symbolizes that Mendel is no longer a baby. He will wear a kippah now, a small hat. Covering one’s head is a sign of reverence to God, Goldberg said.
Mendel’s formal Jewish education will start as well. It means the Goldbergs will make more of an effort to explain Jewish customs to him and encourage his participation. For example, they will urge Mendel to take part in the daily blessing of food, as adults do.
Girls don’t get their hair cut when they turn 3 but start to light Shabbat candles a week after. Shabbat is observed from sundown on Friday to nightfall on Saturday.
A boy’s first haircut is an ancient custom that symbolizes the importance of nurturing a young child, Goldberg said. He also had his Upshernish when he was 3 and living with his family in Brooklyn.
“We compare a person to a tree in the field,” he said.
“The way a tree is planted and treated the first years of its life will be the way it’s going to grow.”
Zevi-s Fan
GO ZEVI!!!
Mazal Tov
Go Zevi
from Cousin NS from LA :-)
Crazy about the most dedicated shluchim!
you guys are incredible! Keep up the fantastic work, inspiring your community and all those you come into contact with. May your peulos grow by the tenfold! Hatzlacha and mazal tov!
S & S
Yay Mendel! :) We love you!
:)
love you leeba, the best oldest sis in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
! yum !
cute boy
friend
Zevi and Leeba, I hear that you guys are doing fantastic work there. Far fromNY but keep up the good work
Emily Perlman
It was a very special and wonderful day; Rabbi Zevi and Leeba are the BEST!!! Mendel looks like a different person; a grown up BOY!!!