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…
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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.
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?”? ???? ?? ????. ??”?, ??”? ?? “????: ??’ ?’ ??’ ?? ???”? ???? ???? ???
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.
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He [Rav Aharon Kotler] [may one use a shaving machine] [the prohibition]
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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.
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[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.).
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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
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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).
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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
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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
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??”? ??? ?’ ???? “?? ????? ??? ?????” ???? ???”?
?? ????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ??????, ??? ?????? ???????
????? ????, ??? ???? ???? ??”?, ???? ????”? ??”?, ??? ?????
??????? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ????,
??????? ???? ????. ??? ???? ??? ??? ????? ???? ??”? ????
????”? ?? ??”?, ??? ??? ????”? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????
???, ?? ????”? ?? ???? ??? ??? “?? ?????”, ??? ????? ???
?? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ??. ?????”? ??”? ????”?.
???? ?? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???’ ?? ???? ?????, ??
???? ????? “?? ????? ??? ????”. ?????? ??? ?? ?? ????
??????? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????
??????? ???? ??????, ??’ ????? ??’ ????? ?????, ????? ?????
????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ????”? “????? ???” ????? ??
????? ????? ????? ??, ??? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ????.
???? ???’ ??????, ?.?.?. ??????, ????? ???? ?????
???? ????? ???????, ????? ?????, ???? ???????,
______________
??”? ??? ?’ ???? “?? ????? ??? ?????” ???? ???”?
?? ????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ??????, ??? ?????? ???????
????? ????, ??? ???? ???? ??”?, ???? ????”? ??”?, ??? ?????
??????? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ????,
??????? ???? ????. ??? ???? ??? ??? ????? ???? ??”? ????
????”? ?? ??”?, ??? ??? ????”? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????
???, ?? ????”? ?? ???? ??? ??? “?? ?????”, ??? ????? ???
?? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ??. ?????”? ??”? ????”?.
???? ?? ??????? ??????? ?????? ???’ ?? ???? ?????, ??
???? ????? “?? ????? ??? ????”. ?????? ??? ?? ?? ????
??????? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????
??????? ???? ??????, ??’ ????? ??’ ????? ?????, ????? ?????
????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ????”? “????? ???” ????? ??
????? ????? ????? ??, ??? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ????.
??? ???’ ?????? ?.?.?. ?????? ????? ???? ?????
???? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ???? ???????
_____________
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.).
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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
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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
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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
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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).