Beards, shaving, and halacha and hashkafa

gryp

Fri, Dec 18 2009, 10:53 am

I found this, it's by Rabbi YY Jacobson:

Quote:

...Hairs act as "straws" transmitting profound and inaccessible energy. Each strand of hair, shaped like a straw (the form of the Hebrew letter Vuv, somewhat similar to the English I), communicates a level of soul-energy that due to its intensity cannot be communicated directly, only through the "straw" of hair, through the contracted, and curtailed medium of hair, which dilutes the intense energy.

Now, the Kabbalah (12) distinguishes between "fine hair" and "coarse hair" - the fine hair decorating the cranium, present immediately during birth, and the coarse hair of the beard, appearing only at a male's entry into adulthood. The hair that links the "fine" and the "coarse" are the earlocks, the payos, the hair extending from the skull, down the jawbone, after which it merges with the beard.

The hair growing on top of the cranium, the "fine hair," represents the deeply concealed energy stemming from the interior of the skull, the Kabbalistic identified location for the super-conscious formations of the human psyche. The deepest and most primal forces of our psyche, the supra-rational desires and cravings of the soul formulated even prior to the birth of cognition, are associated in Jewish Mysticism with the skull, defined as "the crown over the brain," or simply as "kesser", which means the crown. Kesser is seen as the most lofty and elevated part of the soul, its link to G-d who also transcends reason and logic.

The hair of the male beard, on the other hand, the "coarse hair," represents the energy stemming from the sub conscious cognitive impressions of the human psyche, located within the higher and lower brain. This dimension of the human soul is known in Kabbalah as "Mochah Stemaah" (the hidden cognition), and stands one rung below the level of Kesser.

[This is the mystical reason for the feminine body not developing a beard. As mentioned above, the mystical function of hair is to access, in a contracted and curtailed fashion, energy that is inaccessible due to its profundity. But women are naturally more in tuned with their sub conscious cognition, and therefore do not require the "straws" of hair to access that level of self].

Now the question is, is there any way to link the super-conscious forces of the soul, the kesser dimension, with the cognitive structure of the psyche? Can we ever mentally experience who we really are in out deepest space? Even after the kesser energy was filtered into hair strands, is there hope for us to internalize this infinite light within the finite vessels of cognition?

Men of spirit from the days of yore have struggled with this dilemma. Judaism's answer to this question is - the earlocks, the two rows of hair lingering down the jaw bone, that link the hair of the cranium to the hair of the beard. In Kabbalah, these two rows of hair symbolize the contracted transmission of the super-conscious kesser energy, to the sub conscious mental (mochah stemaah) energy, so that the infinite and unconstrained atomic power of the soul's crown can ultimately be contained and internalized within the mental framework of the human condition.

Without the two side locks curtailing, contracting and metamorphosing the new-clear energy of kesser, none of it would be expressed or experienced within the person's conscious life. Only by having the kesser energy filtered through the hair on the skull, and then re-filtered a second time via the earlocks, can the deepest energy of the soul become articulated in the lower chambers of consciousness (17).

12) Zohar Naso Idra Rabah 129a.
13) Ibid. 129a.
14) Or Hatorah Emor pp. 588-593.
15) The contraction that takes place in Hair is manifested in the fact that our hairy parts, particularly of the head and pubis, are subject to troublesome infestations by minute insects and mites, such as chiggers and lice.
16) Shaar Hamitzvos Parshas Naso.
17) This may also be the reason why the great kabbalist, Rabbi Isaac Luryah (d. in 1572), did not allow his earlocks to grow below his ears and have them hang over the sides of his beard, as is the custom of Yemenite, Moroccan and most Chassidic Jews. Rather he would trim his payos (earlocks) with scissors to ensure that they merged with the beard. This "style" was embraced by the Chabad school and many other Ashkenazic and Sefardic communities. (See Shaar Hamitzvos and Taamei Hamitzvos Parshas Kedoshim. Beis Lechem Yehudah gloss to Yoreh Deah 181:1. Igros Kodesh by the Lubavitcher Rebbe vol. 20 p. 10.

In the former style, the emphasis is on overwhelming the beard (representing the deep cognitive impressions) with the "earlocks," representing the flow of the soul's pristine desire and emotion. This indeed is the spiritual path of Yemenite and many Chassidic Jews. In Chabad, however, the goal has always been to link between the atomic energy of the soul and the mental framework of the mind, represented by the merging of the earlocks and the beard (see Or Hatorah and Hemshech 5672 references in footnote #20).

This would fall under hashkafa category.

Halacha-wise, we (Lub.) follow the Tzemach Tzedek who doesn't permit removing the beard in any way, shape, or form (literally Smile

). And yes, this most definitely falls under the category of Halacha, ie. the Shulchan Aruch.

sarahnurit

Sat, Dec 19 2009, 2:21 pm

GR wrote:

I found this, it's by Rabbi YY Jacobson:

Quote:

This would fall under hashkafa category.

Halacha-wise, we (Lub.) follow the Tzemach Tzedek who doesn't permit removing the beard in any way, shape, or form (literally Smile

). And yes, this most definitely falls under the category of Halacha, ie. the Shulchan Aruch.

Also Chofez Chayim says the same as Tzemak Tzedek...

gryp

Sun, Jan 31 2010, 6:51 pm

Got this in an email, thought it was relevant:

Quote:

Following please find a letter regarding the sefer from the Lubavitcher Rebbe (written in English, to a student in the Telshe Yeshiva), followed by a letter (addressed to all Anash) about the sefer written by Rav Zalman Shimon Dworkin, the late Lubavitcher Rov of Crown Heights.

Please consider purchasing copies of sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon for the shuls and yeshivos in your area.

The sefer may be purchased from your local Judaica store [if they don’t have it, please ask them to order it] or on-line (at a discount price) at:

Full color edition -

http://store.kehotonline.com/I.....ge=10

Deluxe cover -

http://store.kehotonline.com/I.....ge=10

Letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe

12 Teves, 5739 [1979]

-

c/o Telshe Yeshivah

Wickliffe, Ohio

Sholom u'Brocho:

Your letter of Rosh Chodesh Teves reached me with some delay. In it you write that you stopped shaving, with the intention to grow a beard.

I trust you have seen the Sefer [book] Hadras Ponim Zokon, whose author is a talmid [student] of the Mirrer Yeshivah, which was published recently, with Haskomos [approbations] by prominent Rabbonim, on the great significance and the must and importance of growing a full beard. The Sefer includes also Teshuvos beruros [clear responses] by Gedolei Yisroel [great rabbinic authorities] who had been asked for an opinion in this matter.

May Hashem Yisborach grant you Hatzlocho [success] that in addition to preserving the sanctity of Hadras Ponim you should go from strength to strength in Torah learning and the observance of its Mitzvos with Hiddur [enhancement], which is also one of the teachings of Ner Chanukah [the Chanuka lights], kindled in growing numbers and brightness from day to day, reflecting Ner mitzva v'Torah Or ["a mitzva is a candle and Torah is light], and may you be a source of true Nachas-ruach [pride] to your Roshei Yeshivah [deans] and Mashpiim [mentors].

With blessings,

P.S. Since you have written to me on this matter, it is my duty and Zechus to refer you "also" to the Teshuvo "Tzemach Tzedek" (Yore-Deah, par. 93), as well to his Sefer "Yahel-Or" on Tehillim (in the Miluim, on the verse "Vehu Rachum," p. 626).

·

RABBI Z. DWORKIN

760 Eastern Parkway

Brooklyn, New York 11213

PResident 8-5030

[Translation]

With the help of Heaven

To all our brethren who cherish Torah

and especially to Anash [Lubavitchers]:

Greetings and blessing!

The Halachic ruling of the Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, against removing one's beard (even without a razor) is well-known. However, many, even among those who study Torah think that this is an individual opinion [of the Tzemach Tzedek] and that the Halacha does not follow him, and [they think] that its permissibility is straightforward ["poshut"].

Therefore, let us express our gratitude to Rabbi Moshe Wiener, who has labored hard, investing much effort and financial expense to prove in an encyclopedic work [sefer Hadras Ponim-Zokon] that Halachic authorities and Rabbonim of all generations until our own rule just like the Tzemach Tzedek -- that it is totally prohibited ["issur gamur"] to remove one's beard, and those who do not observe this are in error and unaware of the seriousness of this matter.

In this work, [the author] not only quotes, clarifies and explains the ruling of those who hold like our Rebbe [the Tzemach Tzedek], but also resolves all Halachic objections brought against it [the Tzemach Tzedek's ruling].

Our Rebbe, shlita, too, encouraged and urged the author again and again to publish his work as soon as possible, in order to remove a stumbling block and potential for error from our Jewish brethren. The author has also been privileged to receive several of the Rebbe's comments and explanations.

It is a great privilege ["zechus"] for Anash to participate in helping the author with his great financial expenses [for publication]. This will be a major Kiddush Hashem [sanctifying G-d's name] and will increase the honor of Lubavitch among Yeshiva people who at present do not observe [the Halachic ruling] to let their beards grow.

I hereby sign the above on this day of Erev Shabbos [Parshas] Shoftim,

5 Ellul, 5737, here in the city of Brooklyn:

Signed: Zalman Shimon ben R' Yeruchem, of blessed memory, Dworkin

Rabbi Moshe Wiener
E-Mail: m.wiener@jccgci.org

gryp

Sun, Jan 31 2010, 6:53 pm

Got this one also:

Quote:

Sholom Bayis and Maintaining a Full Beard -- A Story about the Baba Sali

(on the occasion of his yahrzeit, 4 Shevat)

·

One who guards his beard

is like one who guards his bris.

To touch [I.e., trim the beard],

even [only] with scissors,

is forbidden.

(Rav Yisrael Abuchatzira zt’l, the Baba Sali, in Sefer Hadras Panim Zokon, p. 41).

*

Baba Sali…was very disturbed by the

removal of the beard...

He saw the beard as “the image of

G-d” which should not be removed....

He would frequently

say that a person who resolves to leave his beard intact will

have half his sins forgiven....

Once a young man came to him

and told him that he wished to let his beard grow because he

had heard about the promise that half his sins would be

forgiven, but his wife was opposed.

Baba Sali replied that he

should tell his wife that half her sins will also be forgiven if

she allows him to grow his beard

(Meor Yisrael [biography of the Baba Sali], pp. 88-90).

Rabbi Moshe Wiener
E-Mail: m.wiener@jccgci.org