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identical with a razor and should be forbidden. writes that “no hand should touch” the upper
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The Minchat Yitzchak, basing his opinion part- beard. According to this perspective, even if
ly on this story, prohibits using a shaver, because there are ways to permit shaving, Hashem’s will is
most men are not careful to distance the machine that a Jewish man not touch his beard, and most
somewhat from the skin, and concern exists that definitely should not remove any hairs.
the blade of the shaver may come in contact with Despite this, we find several poskim who
the skin. The Likutei Halachot of the Chafetz argue that even if one accepts the approach of
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Chaim also rules that a shaver is like a razor. the Zohar HaKadosh, it need not be understood
This opinion was not accepted by Rav Ovadia in the comprehensive manner of the Chida and
Yosef, and he quotes from the Yitzchak Yiranein Ben Ish Chai. Rav Ovadia Yosef quotes the Rav
27
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that he consulted with expert electricians who Pe’alim that the Arizal explains that the Zohar
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explained that the ink on the Chazon Ish’s hand HaKadosh was specifically discussing someone
came off because of the heat of the electricity, who completely removes the facial hair, but not
and not because of the movement of the blades. if the majority of the hair remains in place and
Still, Rav Ovadia Yosef writes that one should he cuts it lengthwise. The Chatam Sofer also
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not push the shaver down hard on one’s face, as claims that Rav Menachem Azariah of Fano
that could potentially bring the blade too close was clean-shaven, without leaving one hair on his
to one’s skin. face, because the position of the Zohar HaKadosh
does not apply outside of Israel, as chutz la’aretz
The Approach of Kabbala is not deserving of such a spiritual stringency.
We cannot end the discussion of this sugya with- Maran HaRav Kook zt”l writes in a letter, quot-
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out looking beyond the halachic sources to the ing from Rav Chaim of Volozhin, that the Zohar
Kabbalistic perspective on the matter. The Zohar HaKadosh was specifically referring to shaving
HaKadosh writes: with a razor, and this is brought in Yabia Omer.
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Even if we interpret the Zohar HaKadosh to mean
.האלע אריקי אנקידב הידי טישואד ןאמל יוו
that there is a problem to shave any amount of
Woe to the person who sends his hand against facial hair in any manner, Rav Ovadia Yosef con-
his precious spiritual beard. cludes that priority should be given to the hala-
In light of this, the Chida writes that “accord- cha as recorded in the Gemara, and he also writes
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ing to the way of truth [i.e., the Kabbalistic ap- that the approach of the Kabbala was not meant
proach], the Torah totally prohibited removing for the masses.
one’s beard,” and the Ben Ish Chai similarly

21. 4:113
22. Masechet Makkot 14b, Ein Mishpat 7
23. 1:2:6, page 441
24. Parshat Naso, page 130
25. Shiyurei Beracha, Yoreh Deah, Siman 181
26. Torah Lishma, Siman 215
27. Yabia Omer, ibid
28. Section 4, Sod Yesharim Siman 5
29. Section 1, Orach Chaim, Siman 159
30. Section 2, Siman 466
31. Ibid.

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