By COLlive reporter
How thick can a supplement to a book be? In the case of Sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon, 88 pages.
Hadras Ponim, a 1,024 page encyclopedic work regarding the cutting and growth of the beard in Halachic perspective, was already printed in 3 editions, each with new material not included in prior editions.
This new “Miluyim” (supplemental material) will eventually be included in the fourth edition of the book, which will go to print once adequate funding is available.
The author Rabbi Moshe Wiener said the recent volume fulfills two directives the Rebbe has given him.
“First, the Rebbe instructed that Miluyim be printed in a separate volume for the benefit of those who already purchased earlier editions of the sefer,” he said.
“Second, the Rebbe instructed that new Miluyim be published and disseminated during the months of Elul and Tishrei, to help encourage growth of the beard during this time of heightened spiritual inspiration.”
Some highlights of the volume include:
· A recently published manuscript (authenticated by the Chidah) by one of the Ba’alei Tosefos which expressly states that cutting the beard with scissors is a Biblical prohibition and severe breach of halacha.
· Excerpts from sichos and letters from the Frierdiker Rebbe about how to relate to Anash who cut their beard; that removing the beard is equivalent to removing the mezuzah from one’s home; the status of a Rov who cuts his beard; etc.
· Guidance from the Rebbe on how to manage shidduchim, shalom bayis and parnasa issues relating to maintaining a full beard; whether it is appropriate to accept camp counselors who shave; whether to use a mohel who shaves; whether there is any validity to the argument that a beard brings one to “ga’avah,” etc.
· A psak din (halachic ruling) issued in 5768 and signed by 34 of the leading litvish (non-Chassidic) poskim and roshei yeshiva which declares that all electric shavers are the halachic equivalent of a razor and are absolutely prohibited without exception [signatories include such leading authorities as Rav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv, Rav Nissim Karelitz, Rav A. L. Shteinman, Rav Shmuel Wosner, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Shmuel Auerbach, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva) and Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz].
· Statements from the Chazon Ish strongly opposing trimming the beard for the sake of shidduchim or for kibud av v’em considerations or to help with “kiruv” activities.
· Guidance from the Baba Sali regarding how to respond to sholom bayis issues relating to maintaining a full beard and concerning whether it is appropriate to roll-up a long beard.
· How R’ Itche Der Masmid responded to bochurim from non-Chassidic yeshivos who cut their beards.
· Quotations from the family and leading disciples of Rav Aharon Kotler regarding the prohibition of using an electric shaver.
· Statements from the Frierdiker Rebbe, from the founder of the “Malachim” and from the Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva regarding the sacrilegious reasons behind why the bochurim in the litvish yeshivos of Europe before WWII began to shave.
· An analysis of the position of Chabad concerning the length of Payos HaRosh.
· Guidance from the Rebbe to Rav Avrohom Hecht about how to relate to shaving in this Sephardic congregation.
· Additional sources regarding whether or not it is appropriate to comb the beard or place beard hairs in sefarim.
· Dramatic accounts about mesirus nefesh to maintain one’s beard during the Holocaust, in Communist Russian and in the early years in America.
· The author’s letter to a Rov who attacked his publications and a facsimile of the handwritten response of Rav Chaim Kanievsky to this letter by the author, stating “Yafa Kosavta.”
The book is being sold on Kehot.com and booksstores in Crown Heights.
To be clear, is it 100% an issur midaroyseh for those that shave/trim? If it is, can you trust their kashrus, use them as an eid, have them mashlim a minyan, etc. If they can be included for these things, why?
To #3 – why don’t you read just the shorter book quoted above in English first by Eliahu Touger “The beard in jewish law”and then you won’t be so quick to jump to your imaginary conclusions about false heterim!!!
It seems from the article that even the 88 pages of supplemental material in this new volume of Miluyim are very rich in content. If so how can it be that only 25 pages out of the over 1,000 pages in the original sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon are of value? It appears that #3 never saw the sefer itself. Sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon is structured in three parts. The first documents and analyzes the statements of rishonim and achronim throughout the ages regarding the beard. The second is comprised of 19 chapters each discussing a different halachic issue concerning the… Read more »
#2- that book in english is not as thorough as the original hebrew one
The book consists of endless documentation prohibiting beard cutting, hence the term “encyclopedic.” Not much else is said, and the insights dry up after 25 pages-worth of the book.
Interestingly enough, I’ve heard that a book espousing all the halachik authorities which permit beard cutting would equal this book in size!
See “The Beard in Jewish Law” translated by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger and published by KTAV and available through Kehot and Crown Heights book stores.
Wish there was an english translation!