Hayom Yom 4 Iyar - Opsherenesh is an important Jewish custom

The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman

Day 19 of the Omer

מִנְהַג יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא לְגַלֵּחַ וְשֶׁלֹּא לְסַפֵּר שַׂעֲרוֹת רֹאשׁ תִּינוֹק עַד מְלֹאת לוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים

It 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 יִשְׂרָאֵל

Cutting the boy’s hair at that time — an opsherenesh — is an important Jewish custom,

וְעִקָּרוֹ הוּא בְּהַחִנּוּךְ דְּהַשְׁאָרַת פֵּאוֹת הָרֹאשׁ

whose main aim is to educate the child to leave his payos [uncut].

וּמִיּוֹם הַגְּזִיזָה וַהֲנָחַת פֵּאוֹת הָרֹאשׁ

From the time of his [first] haircut, when the peyos are left uncut,

נָהֲגוּ לְהַדֵּר לְהַרְגִּיל אֶת הַתִּינוֹק

the custom is to make a point of training the child

בְּעִנְיַן נְשִׂיאַת טַלִּית קָטָן

to wear a tallis katan,

וּבִרְכוֹת הַשַּׁחַר

and to recite the Morning Blessings,

וּבִרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן

the Grace after Meals,

וּקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע שֶׁעַל הַמִּטָּה

and the Prayer before Retiring at Night.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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