Q:
Is it true that a man must allow his beard to grow fully and not to shave or cut it even with an electric razor?
A:
Let me tell you, I’m not a posek. I’m just going to tell you what the practice has been in all the yeshivos, even in Europe. The practice was that unmarried men did clip their faces and therefore nobody has a right to claim that if you don’t grow a beard, you’re a sinner. It’s nothing but a very big exaggeration.
The gedolei Yisrael who grew up in Europe didn’t have beards when they were boys. I’m not saying it’s wrong to have a beard, but for somebody to come out and to make propaganda that it’s a sin, it’s certainly not the truth.
TAPE # 247 (December 1978)
