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It is commonly thought that chassidim and misnagdim are at odds when it comes to growing a beard. Whereas chassidim are known to be vehement about letting their beards grow (to the extent of mesirus nefesh – self-sacrifice), it is perceived that the Litvish mesorah of misnagdim is to be beardless.
A newly released publication, titled The Beard: Where Chassidim and Misnagdim Agree, demonstrates that this is a gross misconception. The booklet, authored by Rabbi Moshe Wiener, proves unequivocally that the greatest Litvish Gedolim, including the leaders of some of the most prominent Litvish yeshivos of pre-war Europe (along with many other Gedolim), promoted growing the beard. To quote the Chofetz Chaim zt’l: “Especially today…it is a great mitzvah for the entire Jewish people to reinforce this observance, and to refrain from trimming the beard even with scissors” (Kuntres Tiferes Odom in the preface). The reason for this is because (in the words of Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlit’a), “Throughout our history, it has been a disgrace for anyone not to have a beard. It is only in recent generations that some have started to treat this irreverently, having learned this from the non-Jews” (Orchos Yosher section 5).
The booklet includes discussions on the following topics:
Clarification of the position of the Tzemach Tzedek regarding beard removalThe position of the Chofetz ChaimConcurrence of the opinion of the Chofetz Chaim (and other Litvish Gedolim) with that of the Tzemach TzedekThe position of the Chofetz Chaim (and other Litvish Gedolim) on shaving machines, the method of beard removal prevalent in the Orthodox Jewish world todayResponse to the argument that students in the Chofetz Chaim’s own yeshiva in Radin shaved their beardsResponse to the question: Why did bochurim in Litvish yeshivos remove their beards if the objection of the Chofetz Chaim and other Gedolim was so adamant?Rebuttal by leading Litvish Gedolim of the argument favoring beard removal due to concerns of Ga’avah and Yuhara (and Gadlus HaAdam)The Hungarian and Sephardic Poskim also supported the Tzemach Tzedek’s position regarding shaving the beard
Besides the Chofetz Chaim and Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Litvish Gedolim appearing in this publication include the following Geonim:
Rav Eliezer Gordon (Telz)Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein (Slabodka)Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski (the Achiezer, Vilna & Posek Hador)Rav Naftoli Trop (Radin)Rav Chaim Soloveitchik (Rav Chaim Brisker)The Chazon IshRav Menachem Yosef Zaks (Radin)Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz (Mir)Rav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin (Ezras Torah)Rav Aharon Kotler (Lakewood)Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky (Torah Vodaas)Rav Yitzchok Hutner (Chaim Berlin)The Steipler GaonRav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Kol Torah)Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Mir)Rav Yosef Sholom ElyashivRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz (Ponovez)Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib ShteinmanRav Dov Yaffe (Mashgiach, Knesset Hezekiah)Rav Nissim Karelitz (Kollel Chazon Ish)Rav Moshe Sternbuch (Ra’avad of the Edah HaChareidis and direct descendant of the Vilna Gaon)
and others
This booklet may be purchased at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084YX5TVT
The booklet in also available to be viewed online at no cost at http://www.koshershaver.info/publications/files/theBeard.pdf
To sponsor copies for distribution to Yeshivos and Shuls (in memory or in honor of someone or a special occasion), please contact the author at [email protected]
Rabbi Wiener is the author of the acclaimed sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon, which received the haskamah of numerous Gedolim from across the spectrum of religious Jewry.
Rabbi Moshe Wiener
The beginning of this new publication reproduces the haskama of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbuch zt’l to the Hebrew sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon (by the same author), who wrote:
“In my humble opinion, by publishing this sefer you are accomplishing something positive and beneficial. Perhaps through this sefer the issues will be elucidated and clarified, thereby saving the Jewish public from a severe transgression.”