May 1, 2008

shavers are assur. psak from the gedoilim

This letter from the gedoilim ran in today's Haredi newspaper "Yom Chadash". It decries the use of electric shavers and declares them to be prohibited, under the prohibition of not shaving with a razor. It says that nowadays the electric shavers have improved so much that they are just as bad as razors.

I do not know what prompted the letter. It could be because it is in this weeks parshat hashavua. Another option is because it has been the topic of the daf yomi learning the past could of days in Nazir. Or maybe it is for neither of those reasons.

the letter is signed by Rav Steinman, Rav Lefkowitz, rav Kanievsky and 2 others whose signatures I cannot make out.
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9 comments:

  1. Rafi G.May 01, 2008 10:47 AM

    I am told that every year at the beginning of sefira, when people have to stop shaving anyway, the rabbonim fight this battle from scratch putting out new letters assuring shavers.

    It seems to be a losing battle, because most yeshiva guys (in litvishe yeshivas) shave.

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  2. AnonymousMay 01, 2008 10:48 AM

    Rav Elyashiv and Rav Nissim.

    This is not new. This is old news. RSZA also assured them. In fact the only MAJOR poseik that I am aware of that mattirs is Rav Moshe. Needless to say one can rely on him, but its only him. RAK RYK in america also did. They had a little kuntres come out a few years ago with all the raid

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  3. AnonymousMay 01, 2008 10:49 AM

    Most litvishe shave? or most have no beard? There is a difference since you can burn the heck out of those little hairs by that potion.... thrilling

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  4. Rafi G.May 01, 2008 10:54 AM

    when I was in yeshiva, and from what I see now, most guys shave. Only a few guys in yeshiva would use that potion stuff. and they were the more "brisker" type
    not the regular litvishe guy

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  5. AnonymousMay 01, 2008 11:11 AM

    Not trying to age you.... but when you were in yeshiva did most guys have peyos? Did ANY guys have a beard?

    Nowadays in EY all have peyos and there are even a not so small number of beards in Israeli Yeshivos, primarily those in - and "from" - bnei brak

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  6. Rafi G.May 01, 2008 11:14 AM

    no problem aging me. I am 35.
    Yes, many guys had peyos (I do not know if it was most or not), but maybe not as long and thick and briskery as the standard is nowadays.
    I learned in yeshivish yeshivas (not 1 year American places like Bais or merkaz, and not in a YU type yeshiva or other MO type yeshivas), and I was more the anomaly than the standard. Most guys were very yeshivish, including the peyos. But they all shaved except for a few individuals.

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  7. AnonymousMay 01, 2008 11:39 AM

    Then how do you know all about "sam"?

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  8. Rafi G.May 01, 2008 11:46 AM

    even in my day there were a couple of guys who used it. generally they were the guys who were trying to be more brisker and frummer than everyone else. It did not become popular among the general crowd. Especially when these guys were in pain from using too much and their faces were burning from it.

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  9. AnonymousMay 01, 2008 7:20 PM

    I fully intend on following the Psak. AT LEAST until Lag Ba'Omer.

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