By COLlive reporter
Over the past months there’s been discussion on the topic of maintaining a beard. Some expressed varied and often conflicting opinion and assumptions regarding this issue in general and the position of Lubavitch in particular.
A new 24-page booklet titled “Authoritative Responses to Common Misconceptions” intends to document how the Rebbe, the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe Rashab responded to the questions which perplex many individuals.
Its publisher is Rabbi Moshe Wiener, author of “Sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon,” who will be giving out a limited printed edition as a memento of his daughter‘s L’chaim engagement party next week.
An exclusive online copy was provided for COLlive readers – click here.
Wiener, a Crown Heights resident, said he hoped that the publication of this brief booklet “will serve to help provide clarification and alleviate confusion concerning this issue.”
Since writers in various forums made assertions about what non-Chassidic authorities have said about maintaining a beard and what the position of Breslov might be, documentation in response to those inquiries were also included.
One of the fascinating documents included in the English booklet was how the Rebbe responded to a Chabad follower who shaved his beard.
“How shocked was I to see your appearance…” the Rebbe writes. “You labored and compelled your Divine Soul to remove the “Image of G-d” from your face, by cutting and removing the beard which corresponds to the thirteen attributes of Divine mercy.”
“The beard is the channel for one’s livelihood,” the Rebbe went on to note. “Perhaps your intention was to assist the Almighty in providing your livelihood by causing your outward appearance to resemble the gentiles, making it easier to be given a position.
“Such conduct is contrary not only to divine intellect, but also to human intellect,” the Rebbe adds.
“Even one who is not intelligent will easily understand that this is contrary to simple faith to suggest that laxity in observance of the mitzvos – distancing oneself from the Source of life – will bring the person a large flow of blessing.”
There is a famous story with the Rebbe when he ask a shliach to speak to one bal habas in his shul to grow a beard. The Rebbe stipulated that by no means should you tell him that it’s coming from the Rebbe. He tried and tried however when he was not successful he finally told him “do you know who asked me to convince you to grow a beard? It was the Rebbe himself.” He answered “well if that’s the case why didn’t you tell me until now and he started growing a beard.” When he told the Rebbe… Read more »
The book called The beard in jewish law, written by Eliyahu Touger in English is authoratative, compelling and very convincing leaving no room for doubt about having a full beard.
yes, the rebbe wanted men to keep beards. he also wanted women to cover their hair and wear sheitels. he also wanted people to do mivtzoim, learn chitas, rambam and much more. but when someone chooses not to do any of the things the rebbe pushed for, it’s NO ONE’S business except that person’s and the rebbe’s. I need to make sure my fellow man has clothes, food, shelter and a means of income. i don’t need to make sure he does spiritual things – unless i’m his mashpia appointed by him. and lest you say – what about mivtzoim.… Read more »
KEEP YOUR BEARDS CUZ ITS BETTER OK? OR NOT?
Not to mention, on a much lighter note, beards add swagger.
I am a post-770 smicha, university-educated, working professional, who has never cut or touched his beard. I am grateful to the hippies of the counter-culture revolution of the 60’s and 70’s. Right or wrong, one of their contributions is that they gave everybody the courage to be what they are, without having the need to conform to anyone else’s standards. When I was in university, I encountered many kinds of people, dressed in all styles of fashion, piercings, accessories and so on. Men and women sporting green hair, blue hair, red hair, nylon leggings, ripped jeans – you name it!… Read more »
actually im all for prosperity & good fortune for our own!
& i happen to believe our Rebbe & jewish teachings that indeed Beards draw down more of devine blessings in the form of Money, Health, Nachas etc
this is not to say that with a beard you can slack off & expect all the Hamshachos to flow w/o a proper Vessel
u still must be there for ur kids, go to doctors, eat sensibly, work to succeed at you parnassa etc
=)
What’s with the ” ” around “Gedolim”?
Just because they’re not Lubavitch, doesn’t mean they’re not great people. They’re definitely a lot greater than you, if you can’t even respect a sect that is not yours.
From “Someone” who grew up “Lubavitch” but is now “not”.
I’d very much like to read the booklet, but the link to the online version appears to be broken.
For all those defensive people commenting here. If you don’t want to wear a beard, no problem, enjoy your life! Just don’t say that it is 100% OK Halachically, and more importantly, don’t have the chutzpah to say that this is what the Rebbe wants. The Rebbeim may have been tolerant of every Jew, even those who didn’t follow everything to the letter of the law. But Chas Veshalom to say that the Rabbeim held that we don’t have to follow Torah and Mitzvos to the letter of the law. The Alter Rebbe didn’t change his Shulchan Aruch because some… Read more »
For more about what the non-Lubavitch “gedolim” say about whether a beard is required, see: http://www.koshershaver.info
There is also a book published by KTAV entitled: “The Beard in Jewish Law: Kabbalistic Stringency or Halachic Imperative”.
If the authors of these comments read the booklet “Authoritative Responses to Common Misconceptions” attached to this article, they would not have written what they did.
Shkoach!
And to those asking for proof – I thinK what 11 has said should suffice for now.
And if it really does bother you that another Lubavitcher doesn’t have a beard – something’s wrong with YOUR beard
Until you’re ready to quote the letter directly, nobody reasonable would believe you. Time to put up, or….
i think it has to come from you! you can’t expect some one to keep their beard just b/c A.the rebbe said so. B. b/c you said so. it has to come from his own will and if he docent want it he might do it just b/c he needs you (like he’s lives at home type of thing) but i think the second he’s moves out so is the beard. i truly think if you EXPLAIN him why he should keep it and not that he must keep it, he might just be a little more open minded to… Read more »
could you plz give a mokoir? which letters?
he those who in the early years worked closely in mazkries with out beards even with fridiker rebbe not tht i saying it was right but it should the tolerance of the rebbe that each person works on their level of capacity
for sharing
and well timed
This letter from the Rebbe is targeted at a specific individual.
There is another, perhaps more famous letter from the Rebbe,where the Rebbe clearly differentiates between those whom have always had a beard vs those who have always shaved.
It just embarrasses him and is pure lason harah. Not to mention that he began to grow his beard back. Just tasteless.
this is really powerful stuff- not only for matisyahu but a nice lesson for others aswell
How many people did the rebbe allow not to grow a beard? That you don’t talk about.
but wow! thanx for sharing 🙂
I hope all the ‘Chabad lights’ or whatever you want to call them read this! The Rebbe with ALL his incredible ahavas Yisrael DID NOT AGREE WITH SHAVING BEARDS!!! Neither did the the two Lubavitcher Rabbeim before him. IF YOU ARE A LUBAVITCHER CHOSSID, A FOLLOWER OF THE REBBE, DONT SHAVE OR TRIM YOUR BEARD!
but that doesnt make it any easier. its scratchy and annoying, but its the right thing to do.
yshar koach