Shaving: Difference between revisions
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→Electric Shavers
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==Electric Shavers== | ==Electric Shavers== | ||
# There is a major dispute regarding electric shavers, some are lenient<ref> Sh”t Har Tzvi, Sh”t Chelkat Yacov 3:39, Sh”t Teshuvot VeHanhagot 1:459 in name of Rav Chaim Ozer, Peot Zekenecha (pg 81) in name of Rav Pinchas Sheinburg and Rav Moshe Feinstein. </ref> and some are adamantly opposed and forbid. <ref> Likkutei Halachot of the Chafetz Chaim, Minchat Yitzchak 4:113 in name of the Chazon Ish, Rav Vosner in Sh”t Shevet HaLevi 4:96, Chavalim BeNeeymim Y”D 4:27, Kovetz Teshuvot 1:32 written by Rav Elyashiv, Peot Zekenecha (pg 80) in name of Rav Chaim Kanievsky in name of his father the Steipler, and Rav Nassim Karlitz (Chut HaSheni Hilchot Shabbat vol 1 at the end). </ref> | # There is a major dispute regarding electric shavers, some are lenient<ref> Sh”t Har Tzvi, Sh”t Chelkat Yacov 3:39, Sh”t Teshuvot VeHanhagot 1:459 in name of Rav Chaim Ozer, Peot Zekenecha (pg 81) in name of Rav Pinchas Sheinburg and Rav Moshe Feinstein. </ref> and some are adamantly opposed and forbid. <ref> Likkutei Halachot of the Chafetz Chaim, Minchat Yitzchak 4:113 in name of the Chazon Ish, Rav Vosner in Sh”t Shevet HaLevi 4:96, Chavalim BeNeeymim Y”D 4:27, Kovetz Teshuvot 1:32 written by Rav Elyashiv, Peot Zekenecha (pg 80) in name of Rav Chaim Kanievsky in name of his father the Steipler, and Rav Nassim Karlitz (Chut HaSheni Hilchot Shabbat vol 1 at the end). </ref> | ||
#Many poskim are of the opinion that according to the lenient view all electric shavers are permitted.<Ref>[https://www.koltorah.org/halachah/clarifying-peiot-and-electric-shavers-part-5-by-rabbi-jachter-and-binyamin-jachter-17 Rabbi Jachter]. See Peot Zekenecha (pg 81). See also the RJJ journal (Vol 36 article on Electric Shavers by David Schwartz) which quotes various testimonies of Rav Moshe's opinion (pg 108). Rav Mordechai Eliyahu in his comments to Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 170:2 writes that although it is permitted to cut one's beard with a scissor like action even if it cut the hair so that the face is smooth, one should consult a posek about electric shavers because some cut in a scissor like fashion and some in a razor like fashion. See also [https://www.star-k.org/articles/kashrus-kurrents/563/electric-shavers/ Star-K] article on this.</ref> | #According to the stringent view, it is forbidden to use an electric shaver to get a clean shave, but it is permitted to shave in a way that leaves a thin layer of facial hair.<ref>[https://www.koltorah.org/halachah/clarifying-peot-and-electric-shavers-part-3-by-rabbi-chaim-jachter?rq=electric%20shaver Rabbi Jachter] quoting Yabia Omer 9:10 and Chelkat Yakov YD 90</ref> This position is highly impractical but a possible way to shave permissibly according to this opinion is to disable the lift portion of a shaver and not repeatedly shave any area of the face.<ref>[<ref>[https://www.koltorah.org/halachah/clarifying-peot-and-electric-shavers-part-3-by-rabbi-chaim-jachter?rq=electric%20shaver Binyamin Jachter]</ref> | ||
===Specific Shavers=== | |||
====Rotary Shavers==== | |||
#Rav Moshe Heinemann of the Star-K explains that Rav Moshe Feinstein would test the shaver blades by seeing if the blade was used to try to cut a hair held taught. If it didn’t cut the blade was acceptable. Therefore, he concluded that blades of rotary head shavers are increasingly sharp and would be problematic.<Ref>[https://www.star-k.org/articles/kashrus-kurrents/563/electric-shavers/ Rav Heinemann] | |||
# Rav Yisrael Rozen of Zomet disagrees as the blades in all electric shavers, including rotary shavers, only cut in combination with the screen. Since it functions as a scissor it is acceptable irrelevant of how sharp the blade is. Also, the blade does not touch the skin. There is a tiny gap between the blade and the skin.<ref>[https://www.zomet.org.il/eng/?CategoryID=253&ArticleID=141 Rav Rozen]</ref> | |||
====Foil Shavers==== | |||
# Rav Yisrael Belsky<ref>[https://outorah.org/p/63112/ OU Halacha Yomi] citing Shulchan Halevi p. 128</ref> and Rav Dovid Feinstein<ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/759150/rabbi-baruch-simon/the-laws-of-peyos-and-beards/ Rav Baruch Simon (Peyos min 15)] quotes Rav Dovid Feinstein as holding that foil shavers are problematic since the foil is sharp enough to cut on its own. | |||
</ref> forbid foil shavers since there is a concern that the foil itself is sharp enough to cut the hair by itself. | |||
#Rav Chaim Jachter confirms that the companys’ claim that the foil is sharp enough to cut is unsubstantiated and rules leniently.<Ref>[https://www.koltorah.org/halachah/clarifying-peiot-and-electric-shaves-part-4-by-rabbi-chaim-jachter-and-binyamin-jachter-17?rq=electric%20shaver Rabbi Jachter (Shavers part 4)</ref> | |||
====Lift and Cut==== | |||
#Rav Yisrael Belsky<ref>[https://outorah.org/p/63112/ OU Halacha Yomi] citing Shulchan Halevi p. 128</ref> and Rav Dovid Feinstein<ref>[https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/759150/rabbi-baruch-simon/the-laws-of-peyos-and-beards/ Rav Baruch Simon (Peyos min 17-18)]</ref> forbade using lift and cut shavers since according to the companies the shaver uses a double blade. The first blade catches the hair and pulls it into the shaver and the second blade then cuts the hair without the use of the screen in a razor-like manner. Removing the hair-catching spring blade eliminates this concern.<ref>[https://www.koltorah.org/halachah/clarifying-peiot-and-electric-shaves-part-4-by-rabbi-chaim-jachter-and-binyamin-jachter-17?rq=electric%20shaver Rabbi Jachter (Shavers part 4)</ref> | |||
#Rav Rozen dismissed this concern since in reality the shaver blade only cuts in combination with the screen. Rav Mordechai Willig, Rav Hershel Schachter, and Rav Moshe Heinemann agree with this position that lift and cut shavers are no different than conventional shavers.<ref>[https://www.koltorah.org/halachah/clarifying-peiot-and-electric-shaves-part-4-by-rabbi-chaim-jachter-and-binyamin-jachter-17?rq=electric%20shaver Rabbi Jachter (Shavers part 4)</ref> | |||
====OneBlade==== | |||
#Rav Heinemann left the status of the OneBlade as inconclusive due to the concern that it might be sharp enough to cut hair on its own.<ref>[https://www.star-k.org/articles/kashrus-kurrents/6141/a-cut-above-or-is-it/ Rav Tzvi Rosen of the Star-K]</ref> | |||
# Zomet approved its use since it functions with a scissor action between the screen and blade.<ref>[https://www.koltorah.org/halachah/clarifying-peiot-and-electric-shavers-part-5-by-rabbi-jachter-and-binyamin-jachter-17 Rav Jachter (Shavers part 5)]</ref> | |||
====Those Who Permit All Shavers==== | |||
#Many poskim are of the opinion that according to the lenient view almost all electric shavers are permitted.<Ref>[https://www.zomet.org.il/eng/?CategoryID=253&ArticleID=141 Zomet], [https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/746830/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/ten-minute-halacha-electric-shavers/ Rav Aryeh Lebowitz (Ten Minute Halacha, Electric Shavers)], [https://www.koltorah.org/halachah/clarifying-peiot-and-electric-shavers-part-5-by-rabbi-jachter-and-binyamin-jachter-17 Rabbi Jachter (Shavers part 5)]. Rabbi Jachter writes that many poskim permit all electric shavers and there is no difference between the different types. He concluded that almost all are permitted like Zomet's conclusion, though he isn't aware of any that are absolutely forbidden. See Peot Zekenecha (pg 81). See also the RJJ journal (Vol 36 article on Electric Shavers by David Schwartz) which quotes various testimonies of Rav Moshe's opinion (pg 108). Rav Mordechai Eliyahu in his comments to Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 170:2 writes that although it is permitted to cut one's beard with a scissor like action even if it cut the hair so that the face is smooth, one should consult a posek about electric shavers because some cut in a scissor like fashion and some in a razor like fashion. See also [https://www.star-k.org/articles/kashrus-kurrents/563/electric-shavers/ Star-K] article on this.</ref> | |||
==Haircutting Machines and Trimmers== | ==Haircutting Machines and Trimmers== | ||
