Page 196 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

194 · Hilchot Pe’ot Hazakan Tzurba M’Rabanan

Other Rishonim, including the Rivan (Makkot 21a) and Tosafot (Shevuot 2b), also agree that it is permitted to
use scissors to shave one’s beard. Therefore, when Rav Yosef Karo codified the halacha in the Shulchan Aruch,
he followed this approach, which is the interpretation of the Rambam that he presented in the Kesef Mishneh:

a Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 181:10 י:אפק ד״וי | ע״וש 9 .
One is only liable for shaving the pe’ot of the beard with a ,רעתב אלא ןקזה תאפ תתחשה לע בייח וניא
razor. But with scissors it is permitted, even if it is similar to .רעת ןיעכ וליפא ,רתומ םירפסמב לבא
a razor.
RABBI YOSEF KARO – THE BEIT YOSEF (1488–1575)
Rav Yosef Karo was born in Toledo, Spain in 1488. In 1492, he was forced to flee Spain with his family and the rest of Spanish Jewry and
arrived in Portugal. After the expulsion of the Jews from Portugal in 1497, he went with his parents to Nikopol (in modern Bulgaria).
During this time, he studied under his father, who was himself a known talmid chacham. In 1535, Rav Karo arrived in Tzfat after some
years in Salonica and Istanbul. He quickly became well known and was appointed as a dayan on the Beit Din of Tzfat under Rav Yaakov
Beirav. Rav Karo later established a yeshiva and after Rav Beirav passed away, he and his Beit Din became known as having the greatest
halachic authority in the world at the time. His student Rav Shlomo Alkabetz also noted that his saintly mentor merited to be visited by
an angelic teacher (magid) and learn Torah with him.
Rav Karo is the author of the Beit Yosef, an encyclopedic commentary on the halachic codes of the Tur, which clarifies the source of each
halacha based on the Talmud, and the varying opinions of the Rishonim and halachic authorities to his day. He is also the author of the
Shulchan Aruch, in which he codifies his halachic decisions based on the opinions elaborated on in the Beit Yosef (mainly based on the
Rambam, Rif and Rosh). After Rav Moshe Isserles added his glosses including the customs and opinions of more Ashkenazi poskim, the
Shulchan Aruch became the greatest codification of Jewish law since the times of the Rambam and after a century, became the accepted
code of Jewish law. He also wrote a commentary on the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah called the Kesef Mishneh, as well as the responsa Avkat
Rochel and other works.
Rav Yosef Karo is held in great esteem and commonly called “Maran,” our teacher, or the Mechaber, the “author.” He died in 1575 and is
buried in Tzfat.

In contrast to the Shulchan Aruch, the Ritva concludes that although it is permitted according to the strict
halacha to shave with scissors in a manner similar to a blade, one should be stringent as an act of piety due
to the concern of marit ayin (others will see).

r Chidushei HaRitva, | א”בטירה ישודיח . 10
Masechet Makkot 21a .אכ תוכמ תכסמ
…And this is the halacha. According to the letter of the law, םירפסמב אוהש לכ ןידה תרושמו ,אתכלה ןכו…
any [cutting] using scissors, even [flush against the skin] אלש םידיסח תדמ לבא רתומ רעת ןיעכ וליפא
similar to a razor, would be permitted. However, the manner …תושעל יואר ןכו ,םיאורה דשח ינפמ ןכ תושעל
of the pious is not to do so due to the concern of those who רעת ןיעכ םירפסמב וליפא ףיקהל אלש רהזנה
see him, and this is appropriate to do… one who is careful .חבושמ הז ירה
not to round [the pe’ot of the beard] even with scissors like a
razor is considered praiseworthy.

This volume is not to be distributed. Copies are for the personal use of purchaser only.