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Mystical Significance of Hair
Adapted by Zachariah Goldman from
the Writings of the Ari,Taamei Hamitzvot, Kedoshim
The following is a careful translation from the Ari; it is, however, a difficult selection.
For an introduction to the topic and extended commentary by our translator, please see
Mystical Significance of Hair - Part 2
Do not cut off the hair on the sides of your head. Do not shave
off the edges of your beard. (Lev. 19:27)
When performing a commandment, a person should do so to fulfill
the will of his Creator, Who commanded him. For example, when a man's hair is
cut, he should bring to mind that he will not allow the hair of the sides of
his head to be shaved, nor the hair of his beard.
The mystical explanation is the following: There are the three
types of hair of the head - those associated with Arich Anpin, Zeir
Anpin and Nukva. However, the hairs of Arich Anpin are
of a quality of complete mercy and are all channels of lights that allow the
lights to descend below; it is not appropriate to cut them. Therefore, the
nazirite whose hair signifies Atik [associated with Arich Anpin]
does not cut his hair at all, as has been explained regarding the commandment
of the nazirite. However, in Zeir
Anpin it is fitting to cut of the hair of one's head, particularly someone
whose soul is rooted in the root soul of Cain.  | | " The beard hairs are channels of divine spiritual abundance... " | | |
It is proper for a man to intend, when getting his hair cut, that
he is a reflection of Zeir Anpin, and that he is removing all the
judgments from himself by means of the razor [in Hebrew, "t'ar"],
which has the numerical value of the divine name Ado-nai. This numerical
equivalency is achieved when each letter of this divine name Ado-nai is
spelled out in full, and the total numerical value of each letter is added up. Ado-nai
transforms the judgment; therefore, it has the numerical value of
"razor" ["t'ar"] to remove the judgments...
"T'ar" is spelled: tav (400), ayin
(70), reish (200), with a total numerical value of 670 plus 1 for the
entirety of the word, equaling 671.
"Ado-nai" spelled-out is : alef (1), lamed (30), pei
(80), dalet (4), lamed (30), tav (400), nun
(50), vav (6), nun (50), yud (10) vav (6), dalet
(4), with a total numerical value of 671
However, you already know that the head [of a person]
incorporates allusions to the ten sefirot, and that its allusion to malchut
constitutes the secret of the Sides of the Head. Thus, "side" [in
Hebrew, "peah"] has the numerical value of the divine name Elo-him,
and "peah" is always in malchut.
"Peah" is spelled pei (80), alef
(1), hei (5), with a numerical value of 86.
"Elo-him" is spelled alef
(1), lamed (30), hei (5), yud (10), mem (40), also
with a numerical value of 86.
However, there is no sustained existence to the world except
through the judgments, and it is not fitting to remove them completely. To that
end, we need to retain only the dimension of malchut [i.e. peah],
but this applies only to the head of Zeir Anpin [man]. However, Nukva
[woman] does not shave her head. The reason is that since she corresponds to Nukva,
and since all the judgments are in Asiya [related to Nukva], were
she to remove the judgments from the head of Nukva, there would not
remain any judgments in the world. Accordingly, a woman needs to keep her hair
and does not shave her head.
My master was extremely careful not to get a haircut after
midday, that is after the time arrives for praying the Large Mincha.
Even on the eve of the Shabbat [Friday afternoon], he was cautious.
It is fitting that a man not uproot any hair from his beard at
all, for the beard hairs are channels of divine spiritual abundance. He should
intend that the top of the beard is the First Tikun.
The divine name "E-l", in the secret of the
Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, and the hair of the beard on the left and right
is twice the numeric value of the Hebrew word for "beard" ["zakan"],
which is also the numerical value of the divine name "Sha-dai".
"Zakan" is spelled zayin (7), kuf
(100), nun (50), and when doubled has a numerical value of 314.
"Sha-dai" is spelled shin (300), dalet
(4), yud (10), also with a total numerical value of 314.
Together the beard as a whole is "E-l Sha-dai".
For this reason a man should be mindful at all times not to grasp his beard so
that he does not uproot any hair from it.
To continue on to part two of this presentation of the
Mystical Significance of Hair, click here
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