Beard

In fact, the heads of both my son’s yeshivos *require* them to be clean-shaven (barring sefirah time).

The Wolf

Here is something interesting.

http://www.ou.org/torah/dafyomi/5763/011703.htm

Wolfish no offense but thats REALLY a strange requirement, of all things!

im no posek but from what i know it’s assur to shave. Period. Doesn’t matter that so many people do it. (many people do things that are wrong, wake up and smell the coffee, thats the latest yetzer hara,”but everyone does it”)

i heard that using a trimmer is less chomur.

According to the Zohar, the beard is considered to be a channel of holiness and blessing and is therefore not to be shaven or trimmed by any method.

Zohar Vol. 11 Safra Det’zniuta

Third Chapter

33. Nine precious features were granted to the beard. Everything that is hidden and not revealed is lofty and precious. THE BEARD was concealed in the Scriptures, FOR THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE BEARD SUCH AS, “THE EYES OF HASHEM,” “THE EARS OF HASHEM” AND “HIS CHEEKS ARE LIKE A BED OF SPICES” (SHIR HASHIRIM 5:13). BUT THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE BEARD, AND THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS LOFTY AND PRECIOUS.

34. The first feature of the beard: Hairs upon hairs EMERGE from before the opening of the ears to the top of the mouth, MEANING THE UPPER LIP. THE SECOND FEATURE: It is from this top OF THE LIP to the other top OF THE LIP. THE THIRD FEATURE: THERE IS a path below the two nostrils OF THE NOSE so full OF HAIR that it is invisible. THE FOURTH FEATURE: The cheeks are covered WITH HAIR on one side and the other side. THE FIFTH FEATURE: In them TWO apples OF THE FACE are seen, red as a rose. THE SIXTH FEATURE: on one thread hangs coarse black HAIR down to the chest. THE SEVENTH FEATURE: The lips are free OF HAIR and are as red as a rose.

35. THE EIGHTH FEATURE: Short HAIRS travel down the neck and cover the nape. THE NINTH FEATURE: HAIRS both long and short, HARD as sinews descend equally, MEANING THAT THEY EQUALLY MINGLE WITH EACH OTHER. One who has these nine features is mighty and strong, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN.

36. It is written, “Out of my distress I called on Yah” (Tehilim 118:5). David recited nine clauses until “all nations compassed me about” (Ibid. 10), in order to surround HIMSELF WITH THEM and protect himself. THEY CORRESPOND TO THE NINE FEATURES OF THE BEARD OF ZEIR ANPIN. 1. “OUT OF MY DISTRESS I CALLED ON YAH.” 2. “YAH ANSWERED ME WITH LIBERATION.” 3. “HASHEM IS ON MY SIDE, I WILL NOT FEAR.” 4. “HASHEM TAKES MY PART WITH THOSE WHO HELP ME.” 5. “IT IS BETTER TO TAKE REFUGE IN HASHEM.” 6. A SECOND “IT IS BETTER TO TAKE REFUGE IN HASHEM.” TOGETHER WITH THE THREE TIMES ‘MAN’ IS MENTIONED, WHICH ALLUDE TO THREE FEATURES, THEY ARE NINE, AND THESE NINE FEATURES ARE IN THE SECRET OF THE VERSE, “And the earth, brought forth grass, herb yielding seed after its kind, and tree, yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after its kind” (Beresheet 1:12). These nine FEATURES OF THE BEARD were uprooted from a whole name, NAMELY FROM THE THIRTEEN FEATURES OF THE BEARD OF ARICH ANPIN, AND CAME TO ZEIR ANPIN. Afterwards, they were AGAIN planted in a complete name, as is said, “And Hashem Elohim planted”, WHICH IS THE FULL NAME OF ATIK AND ZEIR ANPIN. There are thirteen features of the Beard in the supernal one, NAMELY ARICH ANPIN. The lower, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, appears in nine features OF THE BEARD, AND THIRTEEN PLUS NINE EQUALS 22. These are the 22 letters that were engraved through them.

37. Therefore, IF ONE SEES IN a dream that he was holding in his hand the beard of an important man, then he is at peace with his Master and his enemies shall be subdued under him. The upper Beard, OF ARICH ANPIN, that illuminates to the lower BEARD OF ZEIR ANPIN is more so, because the upper Beard is called ‘abundant in Chesed’, while in Zeir Anpin it is CALLED plain ‘Chesed’. When he needs light, the upper Beard then illuminates and HE TOO is called abundant in Chesed.

Section I: Practices

When a man or a woman gets a haircut, or a man trims or shaves his beard, each should have this done by a person of the same sex..

1. A man does not shave, nor permit others to shave, his beard at all, with the exception of the mustache that overlaps the top lip, and this is only to be trimmed to above the lip with a scissors. (8)

2. According to some, a man does not allows his peyot i.e. the hair of his temples and upper sideburns between forehead to back of ears (i.e. sides of the head) to be trimmed (9) except when the peyot extend past the length of the beard and then are trimmed with a scissors (10).

3. A man should keep the hair of his head short (11), with the exception of course of the peyot and beard.

Notes:

1 Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 181:12

2 Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 181:6

3 ibid.

4 Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 181:3,10 and Har Tzvi, Y.D. 143

5 Makot 20A, Rambam, Avodat Kochavim 12:6

6 Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 181:3 see Veyesh Osrim & 181:11 & Arizal quoted above.

7 ibid

9 Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 181:11

wolf – ok whatever you say. i never knew bochurim also have “dress requirements in the handbook/registration” in thought its self understood.

maxwell: “Please do the reverse”

I did, Shulchan Aruch YD 181:11

As others have noted, Reb Moshe is matir trimming and even shaving. He says that kimat all the gedolim before the time of the Arizal would trim beards. The Shulchan Oruch in 181 as was also noted by others says it is only those who follow the Ari that are noheg not to trim, and that there is no reason why one must adopt this chumra.

A sefer recently came out with a title like Beards: Halchic Imperative or Kabbalistic Stringency. What I found confusing was that while clearly it is Kabbalistic, as the Shulchan Oruch says, the book seemed to be trying to make a case that we are obligated to follow this chumra, i.e., that it is halachic.

One final question I have is that there is a well-known Mishna that says Eilu Megalchin Bmoed, etc. (Gives exceptions for those who may shave on Chol Hamoed, such as those who were released from captivity, and could not shave before Yontof.) The gemara says the reason for the general issur of shaving on Chol Hamoed is that one should not enter Yontof while he is a menuval (unkempt).

Doesn’t that clearly indicate that A) there is no issur the rest of the year, and B) that it is actually preferable to shave or trim, as it is disgusting to walk around otherwise, especially on Yontof.

Similarly, the fact that an avel Rachman Litzlan is forbidden to shave, doesn’t that indicate that the rest of the klal is allowed?

How is kabbala allowed to contradict an open and shut gemara? We go like the gemara.

when i started getting into the music business i asked my rav if i’m allowed to shave and his response was that as a bochur i’m required to shave but after i got married he said i’m only alowed to shave before i play by a simcha

maxwell: not true, Shulchan Aruch permits ??????? ???? ??? which completely removes all hair. The Poskim who asser either pasken not like Shulchan Aruch Shach Taz etc, or they assume an electric shaver is a ta’ar mamash.

The Chasam Sofer also writes there that there is no reason to keep a beard based on Kabbalah either.

Is that better, mod?

helpful: The opposite. The Chasam Sofer paskens LIKE Shulchan Aruch et al permitting misparaim kein ta’ar, a close cutting non-razor. An electric shaver is generally accepted to fall into this category.

The Chofetz Chaim does NOT asser shaving for halachic reasons, though he does disapprove for Kabbalistic ones. The misconception that he assered them is based on Likutei Halachos where he forbids shaving with a “machinka”, however simple research demonstrates that he is NOT referring to an electric shaver as they were first invented after the printing of this sefer.

The Chazon Ish may be machmir for the Teshuvas HaRashba who forbids misparaim kein ta’ar, however the Shulchan Aruch Shach Taz Chasam Sofer etc do NOT pasken this way.

I beleive they asser for reasons of Halacha, but not powders. They either consider an electric shaver a ta’ar or they forbid misparaim kein ta’ar not like Shulchan Aruch and the vast majority of Poskim.

reb chaim kanievsky can say that its completely ossur.

we little people are not allowed to denounce all the rabbonim who said electric shavers are mutar.

Men can be yotzei all shittos by simply having a beard.

“reb chaim kanievsky can say that its completely ossur.

we little people are not allowed to denounce all the rabbonim who said electric shavers are mutar.”

Because R’ Chaim is not from among us “little people” he doesn’t denounce all those who disagree with him either. That’s what his little people have taken on by themselves.

I say go for it! I’ll be first in line. Never fear looking like a Jew.

On another thread someone (not myself) said the Chazon Ish said he would almost vomit when he saw a Yid without a beard. The Wolf asked for a source. That quote of the CI is brought by Rav Moshe Shternbuch shlita (a talmid of the CI) in his Sefer Hadros Ponim, p. 304 as well as in Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita’s (a nephew of the CI) Sefer Orchas Yosher.

I don’t see any shverkeit in the saying he could almost vomit when seeing a Jewish man without a beard. If I saw a man dressed as a woman I’d almost vomit too. The CI essentially said a man without a beard is ”dressing” like a woman, hence he would almost vomit.

The Ramcha”l apparently was clean shaven.

He would ”almost” vomit. See the sources cited above.

Apushatayid: so true

HALACHIC RULING ~ Rabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv ~ ABOUT SHAVING THE BEARD

by the Gaon, Yerushalayim

The Chofetz Chaim wrote (Likkutei Halachos, end of Makkos)

that recently a machine had been introduced for shaving the

hair, and, [using it for shaving the beard] is, in his opinion,

close to [transgressing] a prohibition of the Torah itself.

In our opinion, if this was the case in his

time, when [the machine] was not so advanced and even the

lowest setting did not give a very close shave, how much more

so in our time when the machine works by electricity [giving a

much closer shave], it is considered destroying the

hair in the manner itself…

______

Rav Kamenetsky wrote as follows in Emes l’yacov Yoreh Deah 181

…Regarding [the prohibition of using] machines for shaving [the beard], this

is not just a Chumra [Halachic strictness] but a substantive [Halachic] issue,

and residents of Bnei Brak are certainly obligated to follow the ruling of the

local Halachic authorities (Poskim) [who prohibit using shavers].

In fact, I do not know whether the great Torah authorities (Gedolim) of

America [ever] explicitly permitted them; it is possible that they kept silent

because no one asked them [their opinion], and they avoided the issue,

knowing that their words would not be heeded.

As for [any leniency] that has become accepted in past generations, it is

a fact that over time there have been many improvements in the machines,

and it is possible that, as a result of these improvements, shaving with them

has become prohibited [even according to the reasoning offered for that

leniency].Accordingly, in this case, it is difficult to rely on [any] tradition [to

be lenient]…*

* Indeed, this is how [Rabbonim] should rule, that it is not just Halachic

strictness, and if a young man wishes to be scrupulous not to use any shaving

machine, his parents should not object to this and say that [their son] is just

trying to find [superfluous] Halachic stringencies.

______

?”? ???? ?? ????. ??”?, ??”? ?? “????: ??’ ?’ ??’ ?? ???”? ???? ???? ???

after a haircut. Does the same apply if one shaves only his beard?

(Responsa of Rav Kanievsky Shlita published in sefer Ishei Yisroel, pg. 717)

that it is forbidden to cut the beard with a scissors or remove it with depilatory cream

and certainly not with electric shavers (which are halachically equivalent to a razor).

Rav Kanievsky cites the opinions of the Targum Yonoson, Sefer Hachinuch, Chofetz

Chayim, Chazon Ish, his father the Steipler Gaon, etc. in support of this ruling.

____

He [Rav Aharon Kotler] [may one use a shaving machine] [the prohibition]

___

Will You Heed the Call of the Gedolim?

AN URGENT PROCLAMATION from the Leading Sages of our generation

THE SEVERE BREACH OF HALACHA INVOLVED IN THE USE OF SHAVING MACHINES is well known to all. Their use was prohibited by our Rabbis, the gedolim of the [previous] generation, including the Chafetz Chayim and the Chazon Ish. Moreover, this [prohibition applied] even to the shavers of many years ago [when the shavers were far more primitive and did not cut hair as close to the skin as modern shavers]. Today, the shavers have been enhanced [and cut much closer to the skin] and thus the halachic issues involved are far more severe. This was the halachic ruling of also our great teacher, [the Steipler Gaon, R. Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky] [as a razor], as is evident from Makkos 21a and Rambam, Hilchos Avodas Kochavim, ch. 12.

IT IS THUS OBVIOUSLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL THE ROSHEI YESHIVOS [heads of the yeshivos] to confront this issue and not allow shavers that leave the face smooth to be brought in [to the yeshivos]. This prohibition applies both to the one who shaves and the one who is shaven.

IT IS A GREAT MITZVAH TO STUDY THE SEFER TIFERES ADAM, authored by the Chafetz Chayim, zatzal, that focuses on strengthening the observance of this prohibition and explains the reward received in both this world and the next for its practice.

[signed by:]

[wrote about this halachic principle] and it was thus obvious to him that [shaving machines]
R. Yosef Shalom Eliashiv

R. Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman. R. Shmuel HaLevi Wosner. R. Michal Yehudah Lefkovitz. R. Nissim Karelitz. R. Chayim Kanievsky.

_____

[1] just like a razor[2] and did not permit selling a shaving machine even to a Jew who shaves with a razor in order to save him from the prohibition of using a razor[3] [chemical][4].

He wrote:[5] [removal of the beard with] depilatory cream… I find this matter very painful…I am accustomed to this being prohibited since the earlier generations, and [the prohibition] was very severe…[Jews] have learned it from the non-Jews during their exile…Although this sickness has spread even among the bnei Torah, the issue has not changed as a result of this, and therefore my soul boils [with rage]
[6]

sources cited below in the following footnotes (2-3).

colleague/disciple, Rav Shmuel HaLevi Vosner shlita, in his Teshuvos Shevet HaLevi

p. 56) and numerous other sources cited in Hadras Ponim Zokon (pp. 349-350).

see also Rav Chayim Kanievsky shlita in his sefer Orchos Yosher (p. 20), where he

not permit selling one even to a Jew who shaves with a razor in order to save him

from the prohibition of using a razor, but instructed [the inquirer) to sell it to a

4 Rav Chayim Kanievsky shlita in his sefer Orchos Yosher (ibid.).

Orchos Yosher (ibid.).

_____

Regarding the Cutting and Growth of the Beard

by HaGaon Rabbi Chayim Kanievsky, shlita

(Son of the Steipler Gaon)

excerpted from his sefer Orchos Yosher (p.19):

[With this our

having this [a beard]
is only in recent generations that some have started to treat this irreverently, having learned this from the non-Jews.

[non-Jewish]
quoted by the Chofetz Chayim in his Sefer Hamitzvos Hakotzer (Prohibitions 177).

Our teacher the Chazon Ish was highly displeased with this practice. His displeasure was not only with

permit selling one even to a Jew who shaves with a razor in order to save him from the prohibition of using a razor, but

instructed [the inquirer] to sell it to a non-Jew.

My father and teacher [Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Kanievsky, the Steipler Gaon], of blessed memory, was also

very strict about this, saying it is very likely that [a shaving machine] is considered literally a razor, so that

one transgresses five prohibitions for using it.

electric shaver, refer to Likkutei Halochos on tractate Makkos by the Chofetz Chayim, p.14b in Ein Mishpot there, where

he writes that it is forbidden and that one should not be lenient in this. It is also known that the Chazon Ish, of blessed

[In addition, the Chazon Ish] was highly displeased even with those who

[chemical].

care not to cut the beard even with scissors, for the Kabbalists write that thereby one uproots the channels of [the flow of]

Kedusha from Above. Our fathers and ancestors in our land were accustomed to observing this strictly. Especially today

when many of the lawless elements of our nation have the practice of shaving with a razor, it is a great Mitzva for the

whole Jewish people to reinforce this observance and not to trim the beard even with scissors, thereby showing everyone

that the commandments the Torah has given us to distinguish the Jewish man [from the non-Jew] are precious to us and

[depilatory cream]
[poison] [lifegiving potion] either, and I find this matter very painful,

for it is against the [Jewish] quality of modesty and is not the Jewish style of dress but [Jews] have learned it from the non-

of those who remove their beards [with scissors] similar to [the effect of] a razor [close cutting], for I am accustomed to

this being prohibited since the previous generations, and [the prohibition]

this sickness has spread even among Torah scholars, may they be well, the issue has not changed as a result of this, and

___

WHAT IS THE

CONNECTION

BETWEEN

SHOVAVIM*

AND

MAINTAINING

A FULL BEARD?

One who guards his beard is like one who guards

the bris. To touch [i.e., trim the beard], even [only]

One who destroys his beard .. He destroys his

sustenance (Parnasa) … One who damages his

beard indicates that he has blemished the holy bris

(Divrei Shmuel, Slonim, Kedoshim).

____

When the disease of cutting the beard spread among students of

the [Litvishe] Yeshivos, the well-known Gaon, Rabbi Eliezer Gordon

[Rov and Rosh Yeshiva of Telz], of blessed memory, adopted the

most stringent measures [to stop it].

When he saw that they persisted in their defiance, he mobilized

[Rov of Pinsk-Karlin], the venerable Rabbi Eliyahu Chaim Meisel

[Rov of Lodz, Poland], and the mighty Gaonim Rabbi Chaim HaLevi

[Soloveitchik, Rov of Brisk], and Rabbi Chaim Ozer [Grodzenski,

Rov of Vilna]
He demanded that they place a prohibition on Rabbonim

against granting them [students who cut their beards] Rabbinic

ordination [Semicha], on Shochtim against teaching them the skill

of ritual slaughtering [Shechita], and on Jewish communities against

employing them in any religious position.

Kovetz Yagdil Torah 7:5

______

Rav and Rosh Yeshiva of SLABODKA

…Every Jew should think about this and have pity on his children only when they walk in the paths of Hashem, when they are similar in their appearance to their parents, keeping Shabbos and . But not to those who are not at all similar in their appearance to the Jewish people, for they have become distant and have garbed themselves in a different style, desecrating Shabbos and … Their appearance is not similar to the Jewish people, for they have removed from themselves the (Divine image).

Levush Mordechai, Bava Kamma p.7

*

[Epstein, Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka-Chevron]
Shaalos Uteshuvos P’as Sod’cha, section 101

_____

??”? ??? ?’ ???? “?? ????? ??? ?????” ???? ???”?

?? ????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ??????, ??? ?????? ???????

????? ????, ??? ???? ???? ??”?, ???? ????”? ??”?, ??? ?????

??????? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ????,

??????? ???? ????. ??? ???? ??? ??? ????? ???? ??”? ????

????”? ?? ??”?, ??? ??? ????”? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????

???, ?? ????”? ?? ???? ??? ??? “?? ?????”, ??? ????? ???

?? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ??. ?????”? ??”? ????”?.

???? ?? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???’ ?? ???? ?????, ??

???? ????? “?? ????? ??? ????”. ?????? ??? ?? ?? ????

??????? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????

??????? ???? ??????, ??’ ????? ??’ ????? ?????, ????? ?????

????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ????”? “????? ???” ????? ??

????? ????? ????? ??, ??? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ????.

???? ???’ ??????, ?.?.?. ??????, ????? ???? ?????

???? ????? ???????, ????? ?????, ???? ???????,

______________

??”? ??? ?’ ???? “?? ????? ??? ?????” ???? ???”?

?? ????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ??????, ??? ?????? ???????

????? ????, ??? ???? ???? ??”?, ???? ????”? ??”?, ??? ?????

??????? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ????,

??????? ???? ????. ??? ???? ??? ??? ????? ???? ??”? ????

????”? ?? ??”?, ??? ??? ????”? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????

???, ?? ????”? ?? ???? ??? ??? “?? ?????”, ??? ????? ???

?? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ??. ?????”? ??”? ????”?.

???? ?? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???’ ?? ???? ?????, ??

???? ????? “?? ????? ??? ????”. ?????? ??? ?? ?? ????

??????? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????

??????? ???? ??????, ??’ ????? ??’ ????? ?????, ????? ?????

????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ????”? “????? ???” ????? ??

????? ????? ????? ??, ??? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ????.

??? ???’ ?????? ?.?.?. ?????? ????? ???? ?????

???? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ???? ???????

_____________

SHOLOM BAYIS

AND

MAINTAINING

A STORY

ABOUT

THE BABA SALI

One who guards his beard is like one who guards his bris. To touch

[i.e., trim the beard], even [only] with scissors, is forbidden.

He would frequently say that a person who resolves to leave his beard

intact will have half his sins forgiven….

Once a young man came to him and told him that he wished to let his

beard grow because he had heard about the promise that half his sins

would be forgiven, but his wife was opposed.

Baba Sali replied that he should tell his wife that half her sins will also

be forgiven if she allows him to grow his beard

(Meor Yisrael [biography of the Baba Sali], pp. 88-90).

For a comprehensive treatment of this subject, see:

Sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon / by Rabbi Moshe Wiener / The Cutting and Growth of the Beard in Halachic Perspective /

Published with the Endorsements of the Leading Halachic Authorities of our Times / 1024 pages (in expanded third edition)

_________

Daas Torah

of the

ON THE VITAL NECESSITY OF HAVING A FULL BEARD

Jewish people to remain strong in

observing this and

not to trim the

beard even with scissors

“Kuntres Tiferes Odom, by the Chofetz Chayim (a work

composed entirely to emphasize the necessity of

[He did this]
Kol Kisvei

Chofetz Chayim)

chapter 6).

(Rav Chayim Kanievsky shlita in his sefer chapter 5,

quoting the Chofetz Chayim)

Kuntres Tiferes Odom

Orchos Yosher

even if one cuts the

beard with scissors

if someone has yiras shomayim

shidduchim is

whether he has a beard (Chofetz Chayim in Kuntres Tiferes Odom chapter 11).

______________

Daas Torah

regarding

Shaving the Beard

[chemical]4. He wrote:5

[removal of the beard with] depilatory cream… I find this matter very painful…I am accustomed to this being prohibited since the earlier generations, and [the prohibition] was very severe…[Jews] have learned it from the non-Jews during their exile…Although this sickness has spread even among the bnei Torah, the issue has not changed as a result of this, and therefore my soul boils [with rage]
tcafs kWmz aht iuzjv hrun sucfn h,gnaW 6Wthena ygnf – iez hkc hsuvh uhbpk

For a comprehensive treatment of this subject, see:

Sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon / by Rabbi Moshe Wiener / The Cutting and Growth of the Beard in Halachic Perspective / Published with the Endorsements of the Leading Halachic Authorities of our Times / 1000 pages (in expanded third edition)

4 Rav Chayim Kanievsky shlita in his sefer Orchos Yosher (ibid.).

____________

Daas Torah on the prohibition of shaving the beard

with an electric shaver

By the outstanding Posek of our generation the great gaon

[Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach] wrote:

[by publishing this sefer] you are accomplishing

something good and beneficial. Perhaps through this [sefer] the issues will

be elucidated and clarified, thereby saving [the Jewish public] from a

_____

HALACHIC STATEMENT

CONCERNING SHAVING THE BEARD

ELOZOR MENACHEM M. SHACH

To the questioner, may he be well:

not be lenient in this matter.

shaving machines is forbidden.

This is my response,

(Signed) Elozor Menachem M. Shach

____________

Shaving the Beard

with Electric Shavers:

WORSE THAN

CHILUL SHABBOS?

To the distinguished and G-d fearing

Rabbi, who brings merit to the Jewish

public, Rabbi Moshe Wiener, Shlita

I have received your letter, with the

enclosed material documenting opinions

of Halachic authorities on the question of

whether one may use shaving machines

on the beard. You request also my own

observations.

As a matter of fact, the Chazon Ish, of

blessed memory, ruled that such

machines are prohibited. Who then, after

his ruling, can dare to rule leniently on a

Torah question that involves

transgressing the Torah prohibition

against shaving the beard for which both

the one who shaves and the one who is

shaved are equally liable, amounting to a

total of ten sins (if one shaves oneself)?

Rabbeinu Nissim of Gevona (the Ran)

writes that a sin that incorporates several

prohibitions is as severe as desecration of

the Shabbos (which carries capital

then, the consequences of violating ten

prohibitions on a day to day basis! Who

would want to place himself into such a

position?

Anyone aware of the severity of this

transgression and its punishment will

keep far away from these machines. I am

sure that if we will explain the problems

involved, and present the opinions of the

outstanding authorities of our time who

ruled that shaving machines are

prohibited (including the saintly Chofetz

Chaim, Chazon Ish, and Rabbi Aharon

Kotler, of blessed memory), then anyone

with the slightest degree of Yiras

Shomayim will keep far away from these

machines and totally avoid their use.

There is nothing more for me to add. It

is obvious that you, my dear most

honored Rabbi, have been afforded the

very great merit of publicizing the serious

problems involved in this question. Even

will help to improve the situation only

partially, your reward will still be great.

Happy is your lot that you are bringing

merit to the Jewish public. May G-d grant

that you will indeed bring merit to great

numbers of Jews who will be saved from

sin through your Sefer.

May the Holy One, blessed be He,

purify our hearts that we may be

privileged to return to Him in complete

repentance, which will bring about our

speedy redemption for the sake of His

Name. I await, with longing, divine

salvation and divine mercies.

Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch

*The Magan Avrohom (Orach Chaim 328:9) and

other Poskim (Mishna Berura Ibid. 39) cite this Ran

and write that it is more severe than Chilul

Shabbos.

_________

Many

scissors prohibited

prohibition

Halachic

Halachic

(prince of the Torah, Torah

leader of the Jewish people

the bright luminary of the sun

absolutely not even seen the Teshuva

pride and saint of the Jewish people, leader of all Jews in the

Diaspora grovel in the dust and beg for forgiveness

give up his life

[Mesiras Nefesh]

,

, ,

Gedolim [great Halachic authorities] and Poskim are of the opinion that

[cutting the beard] with .. is .. The latest such authority (and most

Deah, section 93), where he explains at length and with great profundity the

of cutting the beard with scissors..

Concerning those who write to dispute the position of the Tzemach

Tzedek by maintaining that surely it was not meant as a ruling… what can I do if

grandson and disciple of the holy Gaon, the Rav, author of

…Moreover, in the actual subject itself, he [the disputant] is groping like a blind

Tzedek… He has (Halachic responsum), section

93 in the above-mentioned Tzemach Tzedek, which stretches over eight large folio pages

it up there.

…The last disputant, with his words against the Tzemach Tzedek by the holy Gaon

G-d and the Gaon, the

[The disputant] ought to

and then, after doing all that, perhaps [he will be forgiven]…

Let us conclude with historical accounts of the righteous that we have heard and

know, that the holy Gaon, author of the Tzemach Tzedek, was ready to

for this matter at the palace of Czar Nicholas I…

Halachic

Minchas Eluzar II, section 48

_______________

Why Did the

Litvishe Yeshiva Bochurim

Start Shaving their Beards?

The following response to this question was published in:

Visions of the Rov

Highlights from the Life and Times of Moreinu Hagaon Harav

influences had infiltrated

the Yeshivos of that time,

making .. beardless faces the norm…*

[young Rav Avrohom Kalmonowitz, who never

shaved his beard] even earned the respect of his rebbeim,

Roshei Yeshiva and friends for his strength of character and his

* * *

* Additional sources documenting why the Litvishe Yeshiva Bochurim started shaving their beards: In Kovetz

[depilatory

[Jews]

accustomed to this being prohibited since the previous generations, and [the prohibition] was very

severe…Although this sickness has spread even among Torah scholars , may they be well, the

been a disgrace for anyone not to have a beard. It is only in recent generations that some have started to treat

For similar statements (from our teacher the Chofetz Chaim and many other Gedolim) regarding the (non

Yiras Shomayim) reasons shaving started in Litvishe and other circles, and for a comprehensive treatment

concerning the growth and cutting of the beard in Halachic perspective, see sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon

by Rabbi Moshe Wiener (1,000 pages in expanded third edition and published with the Haskamos of the

greatest Gedolim of our times).

PY: Igros Moshe siman please, before your claim is accepted. Thx

maxwell thats like a 6000 word post no way I can read that pare it down for brevity sake.