is it necessary to grow a beard?

Hello & Greetings

According to Jewish law, there is no obligation or need to grow a beard, and it is perfectly permissible to shave one’s beard as long as one is careful not to shave with a razor.

However, God-fearing Torah observants used to grow beards for several reasons:

First, because in this way man distinguishes himself from the gentiles and from the masses of the people, and thus distances himself from connecting and being influenced by the masses of the people, and in addition obliges themselves to respect their status and act with additional protection according to his external appearance as a respectable Jew.

Second, since man thus avoids any halachic concern about shaving the beard with a machine, this sometimes has the obstacles of prohibiting shaving the beard with a razor.

Third, since according to Kabbalah this is forbidden, and a person who shaves his beard is considered to be cutting his plantings.

Therefore, any person who can take care to grow his beard and at least not shave completely except with numbers or a haircut machine, will be blessed, and it will be more guarded from the sin, and will also affect him with the addition of abundance, holiness and purity.

It is important to know that for the most part the fears in the workplace are fabricated, and a person who grows a beard properly and respectfully, sees that this has no negative effect and is often respected for this.

However, anyone who feels that this is difficult for him may certainly act according to the halachic law that a person is not obligated to grow his beard, and may shave his beard with a kosher machine, if he does not attach it to the skin of the face, so that he will not fail, God forbid, to shave with a razor.

Wishing you success

Rabbi David Ohayon

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