May Electric Shavers Be Used to Shave One’s Beard?

There are two viewpoints on this issue as noted by Rav Belsky, zt”l (Shulchan HaLevi p. 126 – 127). “The use of electric shavers has been a subject of much debate amongst the Poskim. There are many Gedolei HaPoskim, past and present, who have declared that shavers are prohibited in the same manner as razors. The reason for this view is that the Torah does not prohibit a particular shaving device, but rather prohibits the act of shaving and destroying the hair (gilu’ach and hashchasah). Chazal determined that a razor accomplishes both gilu’ach and hashchasah, and therefore cannot be used. The shaving machine used nowadays accomplishes both gilu’ach and hashchasah and should be ossur min haTorah in the same manner that a razor is ossur.”

“The other view amongst the Poskim maintains that only the gilu’ach and hashchasah of a razor is prohibited by the Torah. They understand that Chazal identified the razor as the only tool to which the prohibition applies. According to this view, there is a fundamental difference between a razor and scissors in the way the hair is cut. A razor cuts the hair directly, due to the sharpness of the blade. Scissors operate in an entirely different manner, squeezing the hair between two opposing blades. The hair is cut by virtue of the pressure applied to it, and not due to the sharpness of the blade. Consequently, the Poskim who allow the use of shavers maintain that scissors may be used, even if the resulting trim is exactly the same as that of a razor (misparayim k’ein ta’ar). Most (mechanical) shavers consist of a set of tiny opposing blades or surfaces that cut the hair in the manner of scissors. According to this second viewpoint, nearly all shavers are permissible under the rule of misparayim k’ein ta’ar.”

“The Shulchan Aruch (YD 181:10) adheres to the second view and permits shaving with any scissor-like device, even if it results in a shave which is similar to that of a razor. In the United States, as well as many other places, the view that prevailed was that of Reb Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, who also differentiated between the cutting action of scissors and that of a razor, thus permitting the use of most electric shavers.”

In tomorrow’s Halacha Yomis we will discuss those shavers which Rav Belsky, zt”l considered “Problematic shavers”.

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.