The Beard - Practical Parshah—Kedoshim

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The Beard: Practical Parshah—Kedoshim

A detailed explanation of how the commandment “Do not destroy the corners of your beard” (Lev. 19:27) is understood in various communities.

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By Mendel Kaplan

Rabbi Mendel Kaplan is the Spiritual Leader and Executive Director of Chabad Flamingo in Thornhill, Ontario, serving one of Canada’s most dynamic Jewish communities. He also serves as Chaplain of the York Regional Police Service. He is an active member of Toronto’s Vaad HaRabbanim (Council of Orthodox Rabbis), and a voting member of the COR Kashruth Council of Canada’s executive rabbinical board. Rabbi Kaplan is featured regularly on many local television and radio shows. He is a sought after speaker, with hundreds of lectures on Chabad.org. He and his wife, Faygie, are blessed with eight children. Artistically endowed, the rabbi enjoys drawing, sketching and creating charcoal portraits.

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10 Comments

Anand babu Toronto February 19, 2014

I am in the process of my conversion. I want to grow my beard and do not want to remove it by trimming or in any manner. but I am working in a software Company and my manager asked me to shave. what can I do ? Reply

Anonymous April 28, 2013

Omer deadline Yipes! this Movie is over an hour long...it's Log B'Omer I have less than 20 hours now to take action and I don't have a whole hour to watch this video..... Reply

Howard Damie Montreal November 20, 2012

tonsure The word that Rabbi Kaplan seeks is "tonsure." Reply

Ben Atlanta, GA September 4, 2012

Spooky Stuff The story towards the end about the man boiling in sulfur was the most interesting part. Chabad needs to have more "spooky stuff." Reply

Anonymous Paterson, NJ May 5, 2012

Beards and the Israeli Defense Forces Are Jewish warriors allowed to shave beards, to prevent the enemy from grasping at the facial hair? For some Jewish people, to be clean shaven could save a Jewish life from anti-semites.

How about ancient Jewish warriors? My understanding is that the Roman soldiers were ordered to always be clean shaven, and part of the way the Romans defeated the Jewish people 2,000 years ago was by grasping the Jewish warriors'/resistors' beards.

Jewish people living in Nazi occupied Europe surely would be encouraged to shave their beards in order to blend in instead of being captured, and also to escape from Nazism and to fight against Nazism. Reply

David Malekum Charlottesville, Va May 1, 2012

shave thehead see Metzorah, Lev. 14.9 -- after getting clean from leprosy, "shave the head," as advised by Torah. Reply

Aharon indio, CA April 18, 2012

the beard Rabbi Kaplan
i listened to your teaching on the beard. i cannot grow hair on the sides of my face. will peyos be sufficient? Reply

Simon Brisbane, AUS April 16, 2012

the beard What about surgeons?Should they shave beard or not? Reply

Anonymous Brooklyn, NY February 6, 2012

The Beard A comprehensive (but brief) English language work on this topic was published by KTAV under the title: "The Beard in Jewish Law: Kabbalistic Stringency or Halachic Imperative?"

See also the Hebrew language book entitled Hadras Ponim Zokon (1,024 pages). Reply

Anonymous cincinnati June 9, 2011

the beard what about those of us in the military and health care and food service? Reply

The Beard: Practical Parshah—Kedoshim

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