From the Rav’s Desk: Men trimming eyebrows

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  1. Question: [Monday 21st Tamuz, 5780]

May a man trim his eyebrows, or does doing so transgress Lo Yilbash? Basically, my eyebrows are really wide and go out of their intended “perimeter” and I would like to know if I can trim or shave them in that area.

 

Answer:

It is permitted for a man to trim his eyebrows and doing so does not transgress Lo Yilbash. It is likewise permitted for one to shave to even a razor like shave, such as by using the blade of a haircut machine [i.e. a zero haircut]. However, it is forbidden for one to use an actual razor/shaver.

Explanation: It is explicitly ruled in Shulchan Aruch that it is permitted for men to remove body hair, [with exception to the beard and Peiyos and pubic hair of armpit and pubic area which contain various restrictions and opinions in Poskim] and doing so is not included in the prohibition of Lo Yilbash [even though it is the way of women to shave their body hair, as seemingly women are accustomed to shave it and not merely trim it]. It is permitted to even perform a razor like shave using scissors. It is, however, forbidden for a man to shave any area of his body using an actual razor. Now, the eyebrows are not included in the beard or Peiyos, and hence are included in the allowance of removing body hair to an even razor like shave, but not with an actual razor.

Sources: Mayan Omer 4:1; Avnei Yashpei Y.D. 4:91; 6:118; Ohel Yaakov p. 331; See regarding that one may trim body hair: Michaber Y.D. 182:1; Tur 182:1; Rav in Nazir 58b-59a; Rambam Avoda Zara 12:9; Mordechai Shabbos 327 [regarding abundance of arm hair, permits to remove if embarrassed, however, seemingly restricts if not embarrassed. Practically, however, his opinion is omitted from the Shulchan Aruch]; See regarding that one may even cut body hair to a razor like shave, although not with an actual razor: Shach 182:3; Taz 181:4 and 182:1-2; Beis Yosef 181 in name of Rabbeinu Yona in Igeres Hateshuvah 2:36; Beir Hagoleh 182; Misgeres Hashulchan 171:1; See Tzemach Tzedek Y.D. 93

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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