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It is commonly thought that chassidim and misnagdim are at odds when it comes to growing a beard. Whereas chassidim are known to be vehement about letting their beards grow (to the extent of mesirus nefesh – self-sacrifice), it is perceived that the Litvish mesorah of misnagdim is to be beardless.
A newly released publication, titled The Beard: Where Chassidim and Misnagdim Agree, demonstrates that this is a gross misconception. The booklet, authored by Rabbi Moshe Wiener, proves unequivocally that the greatest Litvish Gedolim, including the leaders of some of the most prominent Litvish yeshivos of pre-war Europe (along with many other Gedolim), promoted growing the beard. To quote the Chofetz Chaim zt’l: “Especially today…it is a great mitzvah for the entire Jewish people to reinforce this observance, and to refrain from trimming the beard even with scissors” (Kuntres Tiferes Odom in the preface). The reason for this is because (in the words of Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlit’a), “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” (Orchos Yosher section 5).
The booklet includes discussions on the following topics:
Clarification of the position of the Tzemach Tzedek regarding beard removalThe position of the Chofetz ChaimConcurrence of the opinion of the Chofetz Chaim (and other Litvish Gedolim) with that of the Tzemach TzedekThe position of the Chofetz Chaim (and other Litvish Gedolim) on shaving machines, the method of beard removal prevalent in the Orthodox Jewish world todayResponse to the argument that students in the Chofetz Chaim’s own yeshiva in Radin shaved their beardsResponse to the question: Why did bochurim in Litvish yeshivos remove their beards if the objection of the Chofetz Chaim and other Gedolim was so adamant?Rebuttal by leading Litvish Gedolim of the argument favoring beard removal due to concerns of Ga’avah and Yuhara (and Gadlus HaAdam)The Hungarian and Sephardic Poskim also supported the Tzemach Tzedek’s position regarding shaving the beard
Besides the Chofetz Chaim and Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Litvish Gedolim appearing in this publication include the following Geonim:
Rav Eliezer Gordon (Telz)Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein (Slabodka)Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski (the Achiezer, Vilna & Posek Hador)Rav Naftoli Trop (Radin)Rav Chaim Soloveitchik (Rav Chaim Brisker)The Chazon IshRav Menachem Yosef Zaks (Radin)Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz (Mir)Rav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin (Ezras Torah)Rav Aharon Kotler (Lakewood)Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky (Torah Vodaas)Rav Yitzchok Hutner (Chaim Berlin)The Steipler GaonRav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Kol Torah)Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Mir)Rav Yosef Sholom ElyashivRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz (Ponovez)Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib ShteinmanRav Dov Yaffe (Mashgiach, Knesset Hezekiah)Rav Nissim Karelitz (Kollel Chazon Ish)Rav Moshe Sternbuch (Ra’avad of the Edah HaChareidis and direct descendant of the Vilna Gaon)
and others
This booklet may be purchased at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084YX5TVT
The booklet in also available to be viewed online at no cost at http://www.koshershaver.info/publications/files/theBeard.pdf
To sponsor copies for distribution to Yeshivos and Shuls (in memory or in honor of someone or a special occasion), please contact the author at hadrasponimzokon@gmail.com
Rabbi Wiener is the author of the acclaimed sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon, which received the haskamah of numerous Gedolim from across the spectrum of religious Jewry.
Rabbi Moshe Wiener
The author is a Lubavitcher, and the booklet is biased and lacking vital information.
Caveat emptor.
Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l was well known for giving haskamos rather easily. Not only did he refuse to give his haskamah to Rabbi Weiner’s foolish collection, he directed him not to publish it and had him thrown out of his apartment.
The book was nonsense in Lashon HaKodesh and it continues to be that in English.
Rav Moshe Feinstein is noticeably absent from this list of Litvish gedolim. And of course any other Litvish or Chassidish Posek who doesn’t share the author’s viewpoint. I can think of many.
I heard this story from someone who there. Rav Moshe Feinstein was once approached by someone trying to get him to sign a Kol Koreh about growing a beard due to the Chofetz Chaim’s sefer Tiferes Odom.
Rav Moshe answered,among other things, that Halevi, Halevi, Halevi, the people behind that Kol Koreh would have a tenth of the Yiras Shomayim of the bochurim who learned in Radin by the Chofetz Chaim. Yet those Bochurim didn’t grow beards despite the Chofetz Chaim’s sefer Tiferes Odom and absolutely refused to sign.
I personally shave due to something my eighth grade rebbi who is a major respected person in the Chassidish world told us over thirty years ago.
“If you are cutting people off on the highway and supermarket, if you are not acting with glatt yosher, if there is anything about your behavior that has potential for Chilul Hashem, make sure you are doing it without a beard…”
Or better, behave like a normal human being and do that WITH a beard and you will make a kiddush hashem
Point is growing a beard is a major responsibility that you may be better off without.
Similar to Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky saying that when he is on the subway he wishes he didn’t have to wear a frock because you never know how your behavior is being perceived
Re. your rebbi’s statement (last paragraph), wouldn’t it make more sense to aim at mobilizing our efforts to be מקדש שם שמים by acting like a mensch in all those circumstances and at the same time be easily identified as an observant Jew in terms of levush and beard? Truly, I don’t mean to pontificate, I struggle with my shortcomings, but I see a possible problem with your rebbi’s approach, namely that I conceal my Jewish identity and feel that I can afford to take liberties in the circumstances your rebbi mentioned as well as in many others.
KT
GREAT.
Why is matzav posting this propaganda? I don’t think I’ve ever seen something so dishonest and one-sided. And at the end the author insinuates that perhaps R’ Moshe never really was mattir – totally false!! I’m absolutely disgusted by this
certainly many held a beard to be a Yiddesh thing.
Many also held that bein hoamim it is better not to for the rov am.
R chaim Kanievsky does not agree, that is true. But many poskim, and in fact many of the ones listed above, who DO actually agree that a beard is a good thing, when looked at by a “should a Yid have a beard or not” viewpoint, hold that many times nowadays, and certainly for bachurim, a beard can be a bigger takala than a maalah. And therefore it was made very public that removing a beard is completely muttar.
Shaving is a separate discussion.
Though that point has been well dealt with by Hagoen Harav Moshe zatzal
R’ aharon used to insist that his talmidim (bochurim) would shave
go look at pre war bochrim in lita all clean shaven . supposedly they used depilatory cream
It is well known the comment the Satmar Rov zt”l made to a chossid when asked about Mike Tress not having a beard. After 120, he will be asked “Reb Yid, where is your beard” but you’ll be asked “reb bord where is your yid”!!!
My late grandmother o”h (who was a bas gedoilim – litvishe) used to lament the fact that by some people their whole yiddishkeit hengt oif a hor (is hanging on a hair)
Everything you hear about what Reb Moshe Feinstein said on this topic is bal peh. No where does he talk about it in his seforim for some reason.Take with a grain of salt. Alot of the gedolim Rabbi weiner quotes, like the chefetz chaim, rav shach, the steipler, and reb Chaim kanievski etc.etc are bksav where you could see it for yourself. BTW-if you choose to use a shaver-make sure you ask a rov-because I had a choshuveh chavrusah who thought his shaver was mutter-and then asked reb Dovid Feinstein who told him that particuler shavor is assur. He was over 5 laven for a few yrs. rachmana letzlan.
It is well known the comment the Satmar Rov zt”l made to a chossid when asked about Mike Tress not having a beard. After 120, he will be asked “Reb Yid, where is your beard” but you’ll be asked “reb bord where is your yid”!!!
My late grandmother o”h (who was a bas gedoilim – litvishe) used to lament the fact that by some people their whole yiddishkeit hengt oif a hor (is hanging on a hair)
My father shlit”o says over in the name of the mashgiach reb Chatzkel zt”l that if a bochur entered yeshiva without a beard and left with a beard, all his shteiging was only his beard!!!
Fake news at its worst. Almost every Rosh Yeshiva quoted there, had bachurim in their Yeshiva who had clean baby faces. This is one of the most dumbest debates ever. Is this their biggest concern in life? I mean, seriously? I thought it was driveway weddings from now on.
I noticed that Rav Hutner is quoted in the book. I would like to think that they write that Rav Hutner turned down a position at Torah VeDa’as since they insisted he grow a beard.
For anyone who believes this, I would like to teach you about a wonderful new invention. It’s called a camera. Look at the pictures of Gedolim from when they were younger.
It is not correct that the Igros Moshe is absent from this new publication. The entire last chapter (which is in Hebrew) is about the position of the Igros Moshe and includes the haskama of Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita (including his ksav yad) agreeing to what is written in this chapter.
The Hebrew sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon has close to 60 pages of letters from Gedolim so there are many who do agree with its content and it does not seem appropriate to dismiss a sefer so many Gedolim encouraged.
For example, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach wrote in his haskama to Hadras Ponim Zokon: “In my humble opinion, by publishing this sefer you are accomplishing something positive and beneficial. Perhaps through this sefer the issues will be elucidated and clarified, thereby saving the Jewish public from a severe transgression.”
Great. Live and let live. No one will be changing their mind regardless.
Btw, those that have beards can be oiver kama lavin by pulling out hairs on Shabbos. Even bishogeg. Clean shaven chevra don’t have this nisoyon bichlal. We daven everyday Lo lidei nisayon.
A friend of mine asked Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel shlita about using electric shavers. Rav Wachtfogel replied (translated from the Hebrew): “I hereby confirm our conversation (when we met before Yom Tov) regarding shaving machines. I recall that I asked the following question to our Rebbe, the Gaon Rav Aharon Kotler, zt’l: “Is it permissible to use a shaving machine?” He [Rav Aharon Kotler] answered: “under no circumstances [may one use a shaving machine]!” I asked him if it is a chumra. He replied that “this [the prohibition] is strictly prohibited by halachah (mei’ikar hadin).”
In the authoritative biography of Rav Aharon Kotler zt’l (sefer Aish HaTorah, authored by Rav Aharon Sorosky, acclaimed biographer of many Gedolim) it is related (in volume 2 p. 265) that Rav Aharon Kotler zt’l responded to a bochur whose parents insisted that he shave (translated from the Hebrew): “Growing a beard is a malbush yehudi, the traditional appearance of a Jew and the way our fathers and forefathers all conducted themselves. Hence, the beard falls under the halachic mandate to uphold the traditional practices of our people (‘Do not abandon the Torah of your mother’ ).”
That’s interesting. His own son, Reb Schniur ZT”L, was clean shaven altz bachur. I have pictures right here to prove it.
The previous Pittsburgher Rebbe ZT”L published a pamphlet (Mogen u’Moshiya) where he quotes the Chazon Ish zt”l as saying that the reason that the Torah being learned did not protect the Yeshiva in Chevron (in 1929), because the bochrim from CHU”L removed their beards (in Halachacally permitted means), whereas the Minhag in Eretz Yisroel was for Bochrim to grow their beards.
Surprised that in all these comments almost no one made the distinction between
(1)not having a beard WITHOUT using an electric shaver
and
(2)not having a beard WITH using an electric shaver
It would be very difficult to argue that Halacha requires growing a beard. It is a lot easier to argue that you may not use an electric shaver.
I personally was almost swayed by the anti electric shaver but my Rav told me that back in the 1950s (yes already back then these pamphlets were around ) he was also almost convinced by them. He went to Rav Gustman who emphatically told him “Es iz shion ah ungepashkneter shaalo az men meg zey nutzen!” (loosely: the halacha has already been established that you may use an electric shaver)
In response to “Anonymous”:
Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky zt’l wrote (in a teshuvah to his grandson, published in Emes l’Yaakov, Yoreh Deah section 181): “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].”