74

Not to make a bald spot in mourning

The Luchos - Ten Commandments
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Holiness – קְדוּשָּׁה

Do not shave or create a bald spot as a sign of mourning for the dead.

This mitzvah forbids creating bald spots on the head as an expression of grief for the dead. Pagan nations would mark mourning with such disfigurements, but Israel is commanded to express sorrow in a dignified, holy manner. Mourning practices in the Torah, such as avelut and kriyah (tearing garments), preserve human dignity while affirming trust in Hashem’s will.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

  • Rambam (Hilchot Avodat Kochavim 12:12): States that even making one bald spot for the dead violates this command.
  • Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 468): The root is to distance Israel from pagan customs and to remind us that we are Hashem’s children, sustained by His providence.
  • Talmud (Makkot 20b): Explains that this prohibition is distinct from self-cutting, each carrying separate liability.
(Source: Chabad.org)
בָּנִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם לֹ֣א תִתְגֹּֽדְד֗וּ וְלֹֽא־תָשִׂ֧ימוּ קׇרְחָ֛ה בֵּ֥ין עֵינֵיכֶ֖ם לָמֵֽת׃ - פָּרָשַׁת רְאֵה
Deuteronomy 14:1 - "You are children of the Lord, your God. You shall neither cut yourselves nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead."

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Holiness - קְדֻשָּׁה

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Faith - אֱמוּנָה

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