Cutting Hair and Peiyos

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What number haircut may one take in the area of his Peiyos? To how short may the hair in the area of the Peiyos be cut?[1]

It is only forbidden to cut the hairs, in the area of the Peiyos, together with a razor.[2] However there are opinions[3] that also forbid cutting the hair with scissors, if the outcome will be similar to a razor. Practically one is to be stringent like their opinions.[4] [Some[5] opinions say that this is defined as each hair being long enough to be folded over and touch its root.[6] This is approximately the length of a .5 centimeter, which is the equivalent of a number 2 haircut. Others[7] suggest that any amount suffices so long as it does not look like it was cut with a razor. Hence according to them one may take a number 1 haircut.]

 

[1] Michaber 181/3

[2] Tur in name of Rambam

[3] Rosh brought in Tur 181

[4] Michaber ibid

[5] Chasam Sofer 154; Torah Leshma 389; See Melamed Lehoil 64; Tzur Yaakov 1/100

[6] The reason: As this is the amount listed regarding Tzaraas [Rambam 8 Tzaraas 6] and so would apply to all other cases. [Poskim ibid]

[7] See Rosh perek 3/2; Chochmas Adam 89/16; Chidushei Hagriz Nazir 40b; Shaar Hachaim 9

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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