Shalom u’vracha,
Sources and reasoning:
As explained in the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De’ah 182:1). See also the Perishah and Rabbi Akiva Eiger’s glosses, who discuss a case in which non-Jews (or secular Jews nowadays) commonly remove it: whether this is considered the practice of ordinary people, in which case the prohibition of lo yilbash would not apply. Nevertheless, the Acharonim wrote that one should be stringent in this matter. Therefore, nowadays, since G-d-fearing and observant men do not shave, there is no leniency based on common practice, even if non-Jews or secular Jews do shave.
Know that according to the Shulchan Aruch, there is no leniency even in a place where this is customary; rather, he is simply not subjected to lashes. See the Beit Yosef, and so wrote the Vilna Gaon (note 3).
Furthermore, touching these areas may cause friction and lead to hotza’at zera levatalah; therefore, one must be exceedingly careful about this.
May Hashem grant abundant blessing and success to one who is careful and who cautions others in this matter, and may he find favor in the eyes of all who see him.
With abundant blessings,
Rabbi Meir Pinchasi
This response was translated automatically from Hebrew and has not yet been reviewed by a person. Therefore, it may contain inaccuracies and should not be considered a definitive reference.
