Shaving with a Razor

I know I can’t shave my entire face with a razor, but are there any spots on my face that may be shaved with a razor?

Shaving the five corners of one’s face with a razor is a biblical prohibition based on the posuk “V’lo sashchis eis p’as zikonecha”, “and you shall not destroy the corner of your beard” (Vayikra 19:27. See also Vayikra 21:5). The Shulchan Aruch (YD 181:11) explains that since there are multiple opinions as to the exact parts of one’s face that are considered the corners one should not shave anywhere on one’s face with a razor (see also Rama YD 181:10). The Rama adds (based on Rabbeinu Chananel) that this includes not shaving one’s throat.

The prohibition against shaving the corners of one’s face (payos) differs from that of not rounding the corners of one’s head, in that one is permitted to remove the hair of their beard so long as they do not use a razor, whereas one may not shave off the corners of one’s head at all. The Rama (ibid.) adds that while one may use scissors to shave one’s face, the blade which is cutting must be the one further from one’s face and one must make certain that the sharp blade does not come into contact with one’s skin. (Terumas HaDeshen Siman 295)

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.