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Friday, 28 Adar I, 5784
  |  March 8, 2024

Why Shave Your Beard?

How did the Rebbe respond to a Chabad follower who shaved his beard? Full Story

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answer to 26
March 4, 2012 2:32 am

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 »

No doubts!
March 2, 2012 10:40 am

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.

bein odom lamokom
March 1, 2012 11:58 pm

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 »

To all people who shave
March 1, 2012 2:11 pm

KEEP YOUR BEARDS CUZ ITS BETTER OK? OR NOT?

pro-beard
February 29, 2012 9:05 pm

Not to mention, on a much lighter note, beards add swagger.

B"H for the hippies
February 29, 2012 11:11 am

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 »

im all for beards!
February 29, 2012 2:46 am

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

Thx Really Nice!
February 29, 2012 12:42 am

=)

To #17
February 28, 2012 9:20 pm

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”.

Broken link?
February 28, 2012 6:43 pm

I’d very much like to read the booklet, but the link to the online version appears to be broken.

Voice of reason
February 28, 2012 4:00 pm

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 »

Non-Lubavitch "Gedolim"
February 28, 2012 1:24 am

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”.

Writing without Reading
February 28, 2012 1:21 am

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.

To 5 & 8
February 27, 2012 8:29 pm

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

To number #8
February 27, 2012 2:33 pm

Until you’re ready to quote the letter directly, nobody reasonable would believe you. Time to put up, or….

a bucher point of view
February 27, 2012 1:11 pm

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 »

to ## 5,8
February 27, 2012 10:44 am

could you plz give a mokoir? which letters?

rebbes secretaries
February 27, 2012 2:51 am

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

thank you
February 25, 2012 8:12 pm

for sharing

well said
February 25, 2012 8:12 pm

and well timed

Very one-sided
February 25, 2012 8:06 pm

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.

why are you putting a photo of matisyahu here?
February 25, 2012 8:01 pm

It just embarrasses him and is pure lason harah. Not to mention that he began to grow his beard back. Just tasteless.

wow
February 25, 2012 7:24 pm

this is really powerful stuff- not only for matisyahu but a nice lesson for others aswell

And...
February 25, 2012 7:06 pm

How many people did the rebbe allow not to grow a beard? That you don’t talk about.

a girl
February 25, 2012 6:31 pm

but wow! thanx for sharing 🙂

Such powerful words.
February 25, 2012 5:53 pm

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!

beards are the right thing to do...
February 25, 2012 6:47 am

but that doesnt make it any easier. its scratchy and annoying, but its the right thing to do.

intersting
February 25, 2012 6:29 am

yshar koach

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