The cutting and growth of the beard in Jewish law is the subject of “Hadras Ponim Zokon,” with over 1000 pages in length and the result of over 30 years of research.
The author Rabbi Moshe Wiener has compiled a phenomenal array of sources spanning the centuries, including opinions across the spectrum of Jewish law, the Kabbalistic view, and astonishing anecdotes of Jews’ self-sacrifice to keep their beards.
As the 3rd newly revised edition is available at local Judaica stores at cost price, COLlive.com presents a letter the Lubavitcher Rebbe wrote to a student in the Telshe Yeshiva.
12 Teves, 5739 [1979]
c/o Telshe Yeshivah
Wickliffe, Ohio
Sholom u’Brocho:
Your letter of Rosh Chodesh Teves reached me with some delay. In it you write that you stopped shaving, with the intention to grow a beard.
I trust you have seen the Sefer [book] Hadras Ponim Zokon, whose author is a talmid [student] of the Mirrer Yeshivah, which was published recently, with Haskomos [approbations] by prominent Rabbonim, on the great significance and the must and importance of growing a full beard. The Sefer includes also Teshuvos beruros [clear responses] by Gedolei Yisroel [great rabbinic authorities] who had been asked for an opinion in this matter.
May Hashem Yisborach grant you Hatzlocho [success] that in addition to preserving the sanctity of Hadras Ponim you should go from strength to strength in Torah learning and the observance of its Mitzvos with Hiddur [enhancement], which is also one of the teachings of Ner Chanukah [the Chanuka lights], kindled in growing numbers and brightness from day to day, reflecting Ner mitzva v’Torah Or [“a mitzva is a candle and Torah is light], and may you be a source of true Nachas-ruach [pride] to your Roshei Yeshivah [deans] and Mashpiim [mentors].
With blessings,
P.S. Since you have written to me on this matter, it is my duty and Zechus to refer you “also” to the Teshuvo “Tzemach Tzedek” (Yore-Deah, par. 93), as well to his Sefer “Yahel-Or” on Tehillim (in the Miluim, on the verse “Vehu Rachum,” p. 626).
The following is a letter addressed to all of Anash written by Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dworkin, the late Lubavitcher Rov of Crown Heights:
RABBI Z. DWORKIN
760 Eastern Parkway
Brooklyn, New York 11213
PResident 8-5030
[Translation]
With the help of Heaven
To all our brethren who cherish Torah and especially to Anash [Lubavitchers]:
Greetings and blessing!
The Halachic ruling of the Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, against removing one’s beard (even without a razor) is well-known. However, many, even among those who study Torah think that this is an individual opinion [of the Tzemach Tzedek] and that the Halacha does not follow him, and [they think] that its permissibility is straightforward [“poshut”].
Therefore, let us express our gratitude to Rabbi Moshe Wiener, who has labored hard, investing much effort and financial expense to prove in an encyclopedic work [sefer Hadras Ponim-Zokon] that Halachic authorities and Rabbonim of all generations until our own rule just like the Tzemach Tzedek — that it is totally prohibited [“issur gamur”] to remove one’s beard, and those who do not observe this are in error and unaware of the seriousness of this matter.
In this work, [the author] not only quotes, clarifies and explains the ruling of those who hold like our Rebbe [the Tzemach Tzedek], but also resolves all Halachic objections brought against it [the Tzemach Tzedek’s ruling].
Our Rebbe, shlita, too, encouraged and urged the author again and again to publish his work as soon as possible, in order to remove a stumbling block and potential for error from our Jewish brethren. The author has also been privileged to receive several of the Rebbe’s comments and explanations.
It is a great privilege [“zechus”] for Anash to participate in helping the author with his great financial expenses [for publication]. This will be a major Kiddush Hashem [sanctifying G-d’s name] and will increase the honor of Lubavitch among Yeshiva people who at present do not observe [the Halachic ruling] to let their beards grow.
I hereby sign the above on this day of Erev Shabbos [Parshas] Shoftim,
5 Ellul, 5737, here in the city of Brooklyn:
Zalman Shimon ben R’ Yeruchem, of blessed memory, Dworkin
To purchase Hadras Ponim Zokon – Full color edition * Deluxe cover
you should be m’farsom this to the telshe yeshiva
in ohio bec. i live there and they need to see this.
bochurim who pick trim or touch in whatever form mostly do it for that being “in” pressure with friends whether it be male or a female
in our schools we would be focusing on other things so the bochurim wouldn’t be touching there beards
there would be no reason to
The very fact that the stress had to be made is a sad comment. The Rebbe Rashab and the Chofetz Chaim once met. The later said to the former: ” I don’t understand how you do it. You don’t even have to speak about the need of not touching the beard, as all your chassidim automatically abide by the requirement. And I …..no matter how much I speak about it, we still have the same problems… (not verbatim)
today any time anyone can’t control them-selfs it’s an addiction,illness etc. Yeridas hadoros
let them go through the curriculum to be studied by a bochur or a girl in the system, let them identify according to the problems seen, (you may interview some happy and not so happy kids that went through the system) that mostly come from ignorance, what needs to be emphasized, and from experts at what age, and either bring it into the curriculum, or be mashpia those things at a farbrengen, through special peulos of older bochrim, at camp, but make sure kids will learn them. then of course check the quality of the teachers etc. there is no… Read more »
if you cant stop yourself… to get professional help!
once you cannot control your behaviour, you are clinically an “ADDICT”
AIN HACHOVUSH MATIR ES ATZMO
you are MECHUYAV to get treatment
(no different than any other behavior which you know is wring but cant stop! such as gambling alcohol or seeking attention for the wrong reasons
shows either one of two things: lack Yiras Shamayim or lack Knowledge! of the terrible consequences
i’d bet that if you ask any of those bochurim who pick what exactly is bad about picking, the answer will prove how little the average bocher was taught on the subject!
i’m also sure that for many, knowledge of the financial repercussions (and health nachas etc) would be enough to persuade them NEVER to pluck a single hair again!
its like tznius for girls,
most abusers know little to nothing about the direct link between their (choice of) dress and the resulting tragedies (foretold in kabbala and mussar) that befall a community
knowledge knowledge my friends!
the problem is that the system prioritizes other subjects above the practically relevant ones!!
Shows that you lack Yiras Shamayim.
Rabbi Wiener is the best!!!!!!!!!! May he be blessed with all the good in the world!
if its soo important to ones life success! why dosent the Yeshiva alocate a couple of hrs per year tolearn the Key mekoros, i’m sure it can be squeezed in!
despite common practice by many Roshei Yeshiva and Magidei shourim (who pick “BEFARHESYEH”) the unstoppable urge to “pluck” is actually a real psychiatric condition known as: “TRICKATILAMANIA” trick-a-til-a-mania if you Google “TRICKATILAMANIA” or check out wikipedia you’ll see that what the Rebbeh said many years ago “that its a MACHALA = illness, and most be persued as such by an appropreate expert! as for the Man by dollars who told the Rebbeh that nothing remedied his urge the Rebbeh suggested Gloves as a better last resort (vs Mustard) these visiable Mashpiim etc send an unspoken message by their picking namely… Read more »