Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2332 — Faith & Bitachon

B"H,

4 Teves 5714,

Brooklyn,

Greetings and blessings,

A question was put to me, on your behalf, about the possibility of shaving the beard [1]. You would like to know whether there is a difference between the manners of doing so, or whether all are equivalent.

It is clear that there is an immense difference. An image will allow this to be understood. Certain beverages are poisons [2] for human beings. When someone drinks them, it is necessary to take the most energetic measures to heal him from the harm he thereby causes to his body. It is the same also for one who drinks of them only one time, and all the more so for one who does so on different occasions.

Other elements may cause harm to a person only when they reach him in certain parts of his body, while they remain harmless if they reach other parts, although they are of no use to them.

For example, one who consumes potato peelings [2] or melon peelings [2] performs a useless act, from which he should free himself as quickly as possible. On the other hand, he does not endanger himself when he introduces them into his stomach [2]. Conversely, if these enter his lungs, the person will find himself in a critical situation.

In a more or less identical manner, certain elements are a poison [2] for a Jewish neshamah*. These are the aveiros*, from which all Yidden* must guard themselves identically. By contrast, a non-Yid* who would commit them would do nothing wrong. Conversely, a Yid* who would adopt this attitude would cause harm not only to his neshamah*, but also to his body.

Other practices, by contrast, do harm to certain people, but not to others. Thus, for us Ashkenazim, the fact of marrying two women would be an aveirah*, whereas the Sephardim are permitted to do so.

In the same way, all the manners of shaving the beard are not identical. Doing so with a razor is an issur* of the Torah for all Yidden* without exception. One who uses one transgresses five issurim* each time he does so, chas veshalom*, as the Gemara*, the Shulchan Aruch*, and the poskim* establish.

By contrast, using a powder [2] or an electric razor is indeed an issur* for chassidim*, those who are bound to the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov*. By doing so, they would cause harm to their neshamah* and therefore also to their body. Nevertheless, this damage is less significant than that which results from the transgression of the five issurim*, when one uses, for example, a hand razor.

For opponents of chassidus* or other observant Yidden*, on the other hand, who do not know or do not accept the halachic* decision of the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov*, the previously stated image of potato peelings applies. Such a practice is not positive. It is not good to ingest these peelings into one's stomach, and one who does so must change his behavior. Yet no danger results from it.

Nevertheless, the peelings must not enter the lungs, and one must show firmness so that this not be the case. One must do everything to reduce the damage that could result from it.

I do not know precisely what your situation is, in what manner and to what extent you are bound to chassidus*. In any case, it is quite clear that by using a hand razor, one transgresses each time five issurim* of the Torah. By contrast, the use of an electric razor [2] or of powder [2] is conditioned by the manner in which one is bound to the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov*.

May Hashem help you, so that you walk in the good and straight path, that of Torah and mitzvos*, which is, for Yidden*, true happiness, materially and spiritually.

With my berachah*,

The secretary,

Notes:
(1) See on this subject letters nos. 3, 1254, 1791, 1845 and 2109.
(2) In English in the original text, whereas this letter is written in Yiddish.