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Shaving on Chol Hamoed: Difference between revisions
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→Is Shaving Armpit Hair or Other Hair like a Beard?
(Created page with "The rabbis forbade shaving on Chol Hamoed so that a people make sure to shave before Chol Hamoed.<ref>Moed Katan 13b</ref> It is a mitzvah to shave in preparation on Yom Tov but as is often the case people get busy and procrastinate. If it were permissible to shave on Chol Hamoed people might delay and not shave before Yom Tov and wait for Chol Hamoed. Since it is a mitzvah to shave in preparation on Yom Tov in order to ensure that people do this, the rabbis forbade doin...") |
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The rabbis forbade shaving on Chol Hamoed so that a people make sure to shave before Chol Hamoed.<ref>Moed Katan 13b</ref> It is a mitzvah to shave in preparation on Yom Tov but as is often the case people get busy and procrastinate. If it were permissible to shave on Chol Hamoed people might delay and not shave before Yom Tov and wait for Chol Hamoed. Since it is a mitzvah to shave in preparation on Yom Tov in order to ensure that people do this, the rabbis forbade doing so on Chol Hamoed. | The rabbis forbade shaving on Chol Hamoed so that a people make sure to shave before Chol Hamoed.<ref>Moed Katan 13b</ref> It is a mitzvah to shave in preparation on Yom Tov but as is often the case people get busy and procrastinate. If it were permissible to shave on Chol Hamoed people might delay and not shave before Yom Tov and wait for Chol Hamoed. Since it is a mitzvah to shave in preparation on Yom Tov in order to ensure that people do this, the rabbis forbade doing so on Chol Hamoed. | ||
Tosfot<ref>Moed Katan (14a s.v. vshaar and s.v. vmenudah)</ref> wonders why Chazal needed to enact this restriction; shouldn't shaving be forbidden because shaving involves melacha and melacha is forbidden on Chol Hamoed?<ref>In fact, Tosfot's first comment is that shaving is melacha and permitted for tzorech hamoed. However, in his second answer (according to the emendation of the Bach) it isn't a melacha but it is a tircha. Even so, it should be forbidden because tircha is forbidden on Chol Hamoed, but is permitted because of tzorech hamoed.</ref> Tosfot answers that it isn't an issue of melacha on Chol Hamoed since it is a tzorech hamoed to cut one's hair on Chol Hamoed. Ritva<ref>14a s.v. vshaar</ref> answers that shaving makes a person's body look presentable and doing melacha to make oneself like nice is similar to ochel nefesh (preparing food). Just like it is permitted to do melacha to prepare food for one's health and physical pleasure, so too is it permitted to do melacha to beatify one's body. | Tosfot<ref>Moed Katan (14a s.v. vshaar and s.v. vmenudah)</ref> wonders why Chazal needed to enact this restriction; shouldn't shaving be forbidden because shaving involves melacha and melacha is forbidden on Chol Hamoed?<ref>In fact, Tosfot's first comment is that shaving is melacha and permitted for tzorech hamoed. However, in his second answer (according to the emendation of the Bach) it isn't a melacha but it is a tircha. Even so, it should be forbidden because tircha is forbidden on Chol Hamoed, but is permitted because of tzorech hamoed.</ref> Tosfot answers that it isn't an issue of melacha on Chol Hamoed since it is a tzorech hamoed to cut one's hair on Chol Hamoed. Ritva<ref>14a s.v. vshaar</ref> answers that shaving makes a person's body look presentable and doing melacha to make oneself like nice is similar to ochel nefesh (preparing food). Just like it is permitted to do melacha to prepare food for one's health and physical pleasure, so too is it permitted to do melacha to beatify one's body. | ||
=== Is Cutting One's Hair like Shaving? === | === Is Cutting One's Hair like Shaving? === | ||
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=== Is It Permitted to Shave if Someone Shaves Everyday? === | === Is It Permitted to Shave if Someone Shaves Everyday? === | ||
In 1948, Rav Moshe<ref>Igrot Moshe OC 1:163</ref> wrote that the reason that the rishonim disagreed with Rabbenu Tam is because not everyone will know why he was permitted to shave. However, today in America where everyone or most people who shaves does so every day or at least once every three days. That being the case, anyone who shaved before Yom Tov fulfilled the mandate of Chazal and the restriction shouldn't apply. Also, people will understand why he is allowed to shave since they know that those who shave do so regularly and will presume that he shaved before Yom Tov. Therefore, they'll understand why he shaved and there's no reason to forbid shaving. Also, it isn't any issue of melacha to shave since it is a tzorech hamoed to look presentable on Chol Hamoed. Even though Nodeh Beyehuda wrote that it is not a tzorech hamoed to shave on Chol Hamoed once a person shaved before Yom Tov that changes in every time and place. Since today people see the idea of shaving regularly as a need it qualifies for a tzorech hamoed. Nonetheless, Rav Moshe concludes that he doesn't generally allow people to shave on Chol Hamoed unless there is a big need. Rav Soloveitchik, however, felt that indeed Rav Moshe's argument is correct and it is permitted to shave. Since it is permitted to shave there is no reason to be stringent not to shave and in fact it is an obligation to shave on Chol Hamoed since it is an honor to shave for Chol Hamoed and the second days of Yom Tov. | In 1948, Rav Moshe<ref>Igrot Moshe OC 1:163</ref> wrote that the reason that the rishonim disagreed with Rabbenu Tam is because not everyone will know why he was permitted to shave. However, today in America where everyone or most people who shaves does so every day or at least once every three days. That being the case, anyone who shaved before Yom Tov fulfilled the mandate of Chazal and the restriction shouldn't apply. Also, people will understand why he is allowed to shave since they know that those who shave do so regularly and will presume that he shaved before Yom Tov. Therefore, they'll understand why he shaved and there's no reason to forbid shaving. Also, it isn't any issue of melacha to shave since it is a tzorech hamoed to look presentable on Chol Hamoed. Even though Nodeh Beyehuda wrote that it is not a tzorech hamoed to shave on Chol Hamoed once a person shaved before Yom Tov that changes in every time and place. Since today people see the idea of shaving regularly as a need it qualifies for a tzorech hamoed. Nonetheless, Rav Moshe concludes that he doesn't generally allow people to shave on Chol Hamoed unless there is a big need. Rav Soloveitchik,<ref>Nefesh HaRav (p. 189), Halakhic Positions of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (p. 25), Rav Aharon Lichtenstein (cited in Techumin 2:133 note 37) </ref> however, felt that indeed Rav Moshe's argument is correct and it is permitted to shave. Since it is permitted to shave there is no reason to be stringent not to shave and in fact it is an obligation to shave on Chol Hamoed since it is an honor to shave for Chol Hamoed and the second days of Yom Tov. | ||
Rav Shalom Massas<ref>Tevuot Shemesh 55-56</ref> and Rav Meir Mazuz<ref>Mekor Neeman 1:498</ref> disagree with Rav Moshe. Rav Ovadia<ref>Chazon Ovadia (Yom Tov p. 190-192)</ref> is also strict and does not allow shaving on Chol Hamoed even for someone who shaves regularly, but writes that a person shouldn't protest those who are lenient since he thinks Rav Moshe's argument makes sense. | Rav Shalom Massas<ref>Tevuot Shemesh 55-56</ref> and Rav Meir Mazuz<ref>Mekor Neeman 1:498</ref> disagree with Rav Moshe. Rav Ovadia<ref>Chazon Ovadia (Yom Tov p. 190-192)</ref> is also strict and does not allow shaving on Chol Hamoed even for someone who shaves regularly, but writes that a person shouldn't protest those who are lenient since he thinks Rav Moshe's argument makes sense. Rav Shlomo Zalman,<ref>Halichot Shlomo (Tefillah p. 236 fnt. 27)</ref> Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky,<ref>Emet L'Yakov (siman 531 fnt. 485)</ref> Rav Shternbuch,<ref>Moadim Uzmanim (v. 8 siman 297)</ref> Bear Moshe,<ref>7:20</ref> and Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Karp<ref>Hilchot Chag Bchag pp. 242-7</ref> are all strict either because of the minhag is to be strict or because they disagreed with Rav Moshe's proofs. | ||
Rabbi Karp<ref>Hilchot Chag Bchag pp. 247-227 </ref> explains that the rishonim who disagreed with Rabbenu Tam did so because Chazal included everyone in the rabbinic restriction except for those who were in an extenuating circumstance. Since this leniency is based on the fact that he shaved before Yom Tov it doesn’t qualify for a leniency. Also, it isn’t considered an ones that he shaved and the hair grew back. Lastly, he argues that since the generation today is stricter and since most people don’t shave every day it is forbidden for everyone. | |||
[https://ph.yhb.org.il/12-11-09/#note_12_11_4 Peninei Halacha] and Dvar Chevron OC 1:543 allow shaving on Chol Hamoed for someone who shaves every day and shaved before Yom Tov like Rav Moshe. Dvar Chevron quotes that Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank who is lenient. | |||
=== Sefira === | |||
Dvar Chevron writes that it is forbidden to shave on Pesach for those who keep the first half of sefira. | |||
=== Can a Man Shave for a Date on Chol Hamoed? === | === Can a Man Shave for a Date on Chol Hamoed? === | ||
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=== Is Shaving Armpit Hair or Other Hair like a Beard? === | === Is Shaving Armpit Hair or Other Hair like a Beard? === | ||
Kaf Hachaim<ref>531:4 quoting Pitchei Olam based on Tosfot (Moed Katan 14a s.v. umenudeh)</ref> writes that it is forbidden to cut any hair on one's body on Chol Hamoed. However, Chiko Mamtakim<ref>cited by Tiferet 531:4</ref> argues that cutting other hair on one's body is permitted for any reason. | Kaf Hachaim<ref>531:4 quoting Pitchei Olam based on Tosfot (Moed Katan 14a s.v. umenudeh)</ref> writes that it is forbidden to cut any hair on one's body on Chol Hamoed.<ref>Magen Avraham 531:12 implies that according to Sefer Pardes any other hair is forbidden to shave and according to the halacha it is permitted.</ref> However, Chiko Mamtakim<ref>cited by Tiferet 531:4</ref> argues that cutting other hair on one's body is permitted for any reason. Hilchot Chag Bchag<ref>p. 240-1</ref> is strict like Kaf Hachaim for other hairs, except for women. Pitchei Teshuvot<ref>531:4</ref> is lenient. | ||
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