beards came in style around 117 it seems.
Hadrian may have grown it to ape the Greeks. He was queer for all things Greek, as well as all things adolescent male. Or he might have decided to wear it to keep in good with the soldiers, since they were generally unshaven. Being popular helps with not being assassinated while on campaign. Although he didn't favor conquest he was on the road a lot.
Don't mention him favorably around Jews. He was a bit of a Hitler, although the Jews gave his armies a hell of a time and were no easy targets.