Ugh. Wha'ts with Lieb's beard?

[liveoaktx]

Doesn't make "Judas" look any wiser... or maybe he was trying to hide his weak jaw.

[Mass]

1. Jewish mourning traditions, I think?

[Chan790]

3. Sitting Shiva

he's not allowed to shave or cut his hair for 30 days after the death of a parent or immediate family member.

http://www.aish.com/literacy/lifecycle/The_Stages_of_Jewish_Mourning.asp

[Still_Loves_John]

4. Yeah,

apparently he has to grow a wild beard in mourning until his friends start to complain about it. I'm sure there's a pool going somewhere on when he'll shave it off. In the meantime, he looks like Senator Blitzer, which is reason enough to scrap the damn thing in my book.

[hopein08]

10. Did someone close to him die?

Hate to sound insensitive, but it was the first thing I thought of when I read those response about shiva.

[NYCGirl]

14. His mother, I believe. NT

[Skidmore]

2. Beard, I can deal with, although for a moment I thought it

was schmutz on my screen. Can we have a new mourning observation of having him shut up? I can't abide listening to him anymore.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Shiva

Shiva means seven, and refers to the first week of mourning after burial. It is the most intense of the three periods of mourning. Shiva is a time of intense but sheltered and controlled grief. It is the second stage (the first being, the funeral arrangements and the funeral) of the "grief work" done by the mourners over a prolonged period of time. Shiva affords the mourners time to remember the deceased and to share stories of his or her life with friends and family.

The day of the burial is counted as the first day of Shiva, and the 7th day is only observed for one hour.

It is customary during Shiva in order to focus complete attention on one's grief:

sit low as a symbol of "being brought low" in grief.
no "luxurious" bathing or cutting hair. These are signs of vanity.
remove leather shoes and wear cloth slippers or sandals.
covering mirrors for the same reason as not bathing.
sexual relations are forbidden.
mourners should not transact business.
mourners may clean and cook for themselves.
wherever possible morning and evening services should be held in the home.
There is no mourning on the Sabbath (from Friday afternoon until Saturday night after dark) or Festivals. These days are still counted as part of the seven days of Shiva.

Learn more here.

[cestpaspossible]

6. no pic? nt

[flpoljunkie]

7. Here's a recent one from July 12th.

[Vinca]

8. He looks like a Keebler elf!

[flpoljunkie]

9. Actually, think the beard becomes him.

[Enraged_Ape]

11. He looks like a freaking hobo

Like "Whistle Stop Joey" or something. I always knew he was a bum, but I didn't think he'd try to actually look like one.

I'm sorry, but that's just a terrible beard. It just doesn't look good with the red nose.

[LittleClarkie]

18. He's not wearing it for looks

His mom died. It's what a Jewish man does when he's in mourning.

[Enraged_Ape]

21. Can't he groom it a little bit?

I'm afraid he will be arrested for vagrancy.

[JaneQPublic]

12. Hurts to shave after getting a rash... from kissing Bush's ass (nt)

[LittleClarkie]

15. No matter how you feel about Lieberman

Mourning rituals are not usually the stuff of mirth.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. Apparently, it is for some.

:(

[LittleClarkie]

17. I find it in supreme bad taste. And I'm not Jewish.

I'm glad somebody agrees.

These folks are human too, after all. I even cried at Reagan's funeral when they couldn't get Nancy off the coffin. They weren't Republicans then. They were people, and I could relate to the pain.

[Zen Democrat]

13. He's not bathing either????

[joanski0]

19. I'm glad to learn the reason for the beard.

I had to walk up close to my TV to believe what I was seeing. I thought there was something wrong with the TV picture.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

20. awww..... there goes the cute Yoshi (mario brothers turtle) look

[Moderator]

22. Locking

asked and answered, the Senator is in mourning for his mother.