In the 1890s, when the trend to shave the beard was gaining popularity in the Litvish regions of Lithuania and Russia and beyond (due to various secular influences*), the Chofetz Chaim zt’l published Kuntres Tiferes Odom. In this volume, the Chofetz Chaim systematically and vigorously refuted all the various justifications being advanced to defend removal of the beard and asserted (in his introductory remarks) that “it is a great mitzvah for the entire Jewish people to reinforce this observance and refrain from trimming the beard even with scissors.” [In contradistinction to common presumption that the accepted Litvish practice is to be beardless, the Chofetz Chaim attests in the first chapter of this work that, until that time, only “one in a thousand” shaved their beards].
Recently, much discussion has appeared in various widely-publicized forums on the topic of maintaining a beard. Is maintaining a beard a halachic imperative or a Kabbalistic/Chassidic stringency? Many individuals have expressed varied and often conflicting opinions and assumptions regarding this issue (especially regarding the position of the Litvish and other Gedolim).
Following this precedent of the Chofetz Chaim (and in the spirit of “know how to respond….” in Pirkei Avos 2:14), a new volume has been prepared for publication to dispute and refute the various arguments and sources utilized by some in defense of shaving.
Entitled Authoritative Responses to Common Misconceptions (and compiled by Rabbi Moshe Nisan Wiener, author of sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon and sefer Kvuda Bas Melech), this publication presents (in 25 chapters) various claims and contentions which have been advanced in defense of shaving and demonstrates that they are often based on erroneous assertions and misrepresentations of sources.
It is hoped that the publication of this comprehensive volume will provide clarification and alleviate some of the confusion surrounding this issue.
*As attested to by the Gadol Hador, Hagaon Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita, in his sefer Orchos Yosher (chapter 5): “Throughout our history, it has been a disgrace for anyone not to have a beard. It is only in recent generations that some have started to treat this irreverently, having learned this from the non-Jews.” For numerous addition sources documenting this fact, see chapter 17 in this new volume and sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon section 2 chapter 4 at length.
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Authoritative Responses to Common Misconceptions may be viewed (at no charge) by clicking here.
To review individual chapters, following is the table of contents with active links to each chapter (which can be accessed by clicking the chapter name):
Preface: ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
Chapter 1: Glaring Omission I:
What is the position of the non Chassidic Gedolim regarding maintaining a beard and shaving? …………………………………………….. 7
Chapter 2: Glaring Omission II:
What is the position of the non Chassidic Poskim and Roshei Yeshiva
concerning all electric shavers? …………………………………………………………….. 13
Was it appropriate to publish the sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon? …………………….. 20
Is Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski zt’l a valid source to permit electric shavers? …. 23
Is Rav Ovadia Yosef zt’l a valid source to permit electric shavers? ……………….. 27
Is Rav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin zt’l a valid source to permit electric shavers?……… 29
Is Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank zt’l a valid source to permit electric shavers?………….. 32
Is Shaalos u’Teshuvos Tirosh v’Yitzhar a valid source to permit electric shavers? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 34
Is Rav Avrohom Yitzchok HaKohen Kook zt’l a valid source to permit electric shavers? ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 36
Is the Chasam Sofer’s statement about the Rama of Fano a valid basis to permit shaving the beard?………………………………………………………………………………. 40
Did Rav Elyashiv zt’l consider electric shavers to be a sofek prohibition or a vadai?………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 44
Is the opinion of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt’l an adequate basis to permit electric
shavers? …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 46
Is it accurate to say that only the Israeli Gedolim prohibited electric shavers and not the American Gedolim? ………………………………………………………………….. 55
Is it accurate to say that the Tzemach Tzedek halachically prohibited only total removal of the beard but not trimming?………………………………………………….. 59
Is it true that the Chasam Sofer discounted the kabbalistic basis to prohibit shaving the beard?…………………………………………………………………………………….. 65
What is the significance of the beard according to Kabbalah? ………………….. 67
What is the mesorah of the Litvishe Torah community regarding maintaining a beard and shaving?………………………………………………………………………………… 74
Are electric shavers really forbidden according to the Chofetz Chaim zt’l?….. 78
Did the son-in-law of the Chofetz Chaim write that shaving machines are permissible? ………………………………………………………………….. 85
What was the position of Rav Aharon Kotler zt’l concerning shaving and electric shavers? …………………………………………………………………………………………… 87
The Tzemach Tzedek writes that the transgression of lo yilbash is relevant to cutting the beard. Is his position accepted or rejected by the Poskim? ……………… 93
Shaving the Beard: A Preparation for Rosh Hashanah?! …………………………… 102
Should Electric Shavers Be Given To Those Who Remove Their Beard With Razors? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 106
Are Concerns for “Ga’avah” and “Yuhara” Valid Reasons to Shave the Beard? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 114
What is the position of the Gedolim of the Sephardim regarding the beard and shaving? …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 117
Additional Challenges for Further Study
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….121
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….123
Why Does Mame Rochel Cry? ……………………………………………………………… 126
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8 Responses
Coming on the heels of the original sefer, it’s quite audacious for this individual to write a book with the word “authoritative” in the title….
And all the roshey yeshivas of all the litvish yeshivas , who never said one word to all their hundreds of talmidim who shave, is because????
They are too dense to notice that their entire student body shaves?
They feel that since nobody will listen it’s better not to say anything but this random genius is going to convince them all so he wrote an authoritative book?
Or perhaps, just maybe, they all hold its OK. And instead of writing a book he should get off his lazy… And ask them why they feel it’s OK to shave before opening his mouth
The booklet is a collection of quotations of poskim who are considered authoritative. Therefore it is entitled “Authoritative Responses.”
Why is this ‘sponsored content’? If you are litvish then you ask your rav, not follow some ad or flyer out there
The Litvishe Roshei Yeshivos openly will tell you that they don’t enforce beards because they know their talmidim will mostly ignore them if they pushed the issue. Even though it has a strong halachic basis to be required.
Not to be nitpicking, but were there NON-Litvish areas of Lithuania?
Joseph,
According to Rav Moshe it is permitted. The sefer IMHO should be taken with a grain of salt, as it is written with an agenda, and will thus quote the ones prohibiting it.
The fact is, most Rosh Yeshivos and their children all shaved at one point, like Rav Aron Kotler etc. (see pictures of Rav Baruch Ber surrounded with talmidim – all shaved)
Is it preferable not to? of course – but at one point it was established in Yeshivos (Slobodka/Chevron etc) due to its status of Bnei Torah at the time, and was implemented to raise and improve the very image of Bnei Torah…
Joseph,etc.
Beards and other external were considered unhealthy for most as a level that they were not
Ready and holding by