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The Beard: Where Chassidim and Misnagdim Agree

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 removal
  • The position of the Chofetz Chaim
  • Concurrence of the opinion of the Chofetz Chaim (and other Litvish Gedolim) with that of the Tzemach Tzedek
  • The position of the Chofetz Chaim (and other Litvish Gedolim) on shaving machines, the method of beard removal prevalent in the Orthodox Jewish world today
  • Response to the argument that students in the Chofetz Chaim’s own yeshiva in Radin shaved their beards
  • Response 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 Ish
  • Rav 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 Gaon
  • Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Kol Torah)
  • Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Mir)
  • Rav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv
  • Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz (Ponovez)
  • Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman
  • Rav 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 hadrasponimzokon@gmail.com

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.

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