Torah's view on physical appearance and grooming
Question
Were the ancient Israelites told on how to keep their physical appearance on grooming? And if so, what were they?
Answer
Shalom,
The Torah says in Devarim 14:1–2: ' You are children of Hashem, your God. You shall not gash yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead. For you are a people consecrated to Hashem, your God: Hashem, your God, chose you from among all other peoples on earth to be a treasured people '.
In other words, it is forbidden to wound one's skin or pluck one's hair as a sign of mourning. The reason for this prohibition is that the Jews are the chosen people, and they have to keep a beautiful appearance rather than wearing torn garments and wounding themselves.
The Torah also says in Vayikra 11:43: ' You shall not make yourselves abominable '. The verse refers to eating various creeping and crawling creatures. But our sages interpret it more broadly to mean that it is prohibited for a Jew to do things that are disgraceful or abominable.
There is a minor tractate called Derekh Eretz entirely dedicated to the laws of proper and decent behaviour, including dietary and dressing habits.
Source
Devarim 14:1–2; Vayikra 11:43.
For instance, it is prohibited to drink from a special horn used for bloodletting ( Makkot 16b) or from a vessel intended for lowly use ( Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chaim 116), or to eat live creatures such as fish.
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