Chalaka
3 year old Chalaka Upsherin - Tisporet
A Chalaka or Upsherin in Yiddish (אפשערן), is a haircutting ceremony held when a Jewish boy turns three-years-old and receives his first haircut.
This is a custom that has been practiced throughout the entire world for generations, a ceremony celebrating the first haircut. The primary purpose of the hair cutting is for the intention of leaving and essentially revealing the Peyot/sidelocks, while the rest of his hair is cut short, the child’s side locks are left intact as a glorification of the Biblical commandment in Leviticus 19:27, “Ye shall not round the corners of your heads”.
In Israel, there is a strong tradition to do it at the burial site of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron, especially on Lag BaOmer.
The Ari Hakadosh, Rabbi Isaac Luria, in the sixteenth century took his family and his young son to Rabbi Shimon's gravesite in Meron on Lag BaOmer. There he performed his son's first hair cutting with great joy and festivity, "according to the well-known tradition."
Child Born After 46 Years
Celebrates His Chalaka
The child born to a couple after 46 years of marriage marked his chalaka this Lag B’Omer. The child was born to a 67-year-old father and a 65-year-old mother and he had his hair cut with his now 70-year-old father standing by all smiles.
For this couple, the simcha is indeed something special and by the smiles evident on the face of others, it was a special event for all present.
Rav Shmuel brought his only child to the rebbe, in Meron, for his chalaka. There was much joy as they placed tzitzis on Shimon Chaim and he made a bracha, as he was showered with brachos.