The Beard

A beard refers to the hair that grows on the lower part of the skull. The beard has deep inner significance, and there is a halachic prohibition against cutting it. In certain places in Chazal, the word "beard" refers to the chin - meaning the part of the body where beard hair grows, even if it doesn't actually grow there in practice.

Parts of the Beard[edit | edit source]

In halacha, the beard is divided into five different areas, while the Zohar counts thirteen parts, which it calls the "13 Tikunei Dikna": the peyos, upper jaw and lower jaw, the chin - above it and below it, the part rising from the chest, the mustache, and the two puffy areas on the cheeks (where hair doesn't grow). It is known that in the Baal Shem Tov's beard, these 13 tikunim were visible.

Its Holiness[edit | edit source]

The beard is called in Kabbalah seforim "13 Tikunei Dikna." This number 13 corresponds to drawing down the 13 Middos HaRachamim (Attributes of Mercy), which flow into the worlds through the beard.

To several people whom the Rebbe encouraged to grow a beard, the Rebbe said that this is the source for all blessings and influences from Above in a way of rachamim (mercy).

The Prohibition[edit | edit source]

The Torah states "You shall not destroy the corner of your beard." This prohibition includes all five parts of the beard, except for the peyos - which need to be cut (depending on different customs, but this is the Chabad custom) so they don't mix with the beard, since they have two different levels of kedusha. And except for the mustache, which the Arizal wrote that one specifically needs to cut all parts that interfere with eating.

Since the verse only mentions the prohibition of destruction, many poskim found room for leniency - that this only applies to destruction by razor which completely destroys the hair, but if done in different ways like with scissors, then it is permitted to cut. However, the Tzemach Tzedek rules and proves that shaving the beard violates the prohibition of "a man shall not wear" and therefore it is forbidden to cut the beard even with scissors.

Rabbi Moshe Nissan Weiner published, with the Rebbe's encouragement, a comprehensive book on the topic in which he compiled all the words of the Rishonim and Acharonim, Mishna, Gemara, Midrash and Zohar. This book received approbations from most of the Torah giants of our generation, except for Rabbi Moshe Feinstein who refused, saying that since the Rambam did not explicitly write that it is forbidden, one cannot "push" it into his words.

Grooming the Beard[edit | edit source]

Regarding grooming the beard through combing or folding, our Rebbeim expressed that they are not pleased with this.

Regarding combing, the Rebbe wrote that the practice of not arranging the beard with a comb, and not touching the beard at all, is a practice of uniquely righteous individuals, and it is permitted to comb the beard

The Rebbe's Perspective[edit | edit source]

The Rebbe brings that according to Kabbalah there is a very great matter - the 13 Tikunei Dikna (aspects of the beard), which draw down from the 13 Attributes of Mercy. The Tzemach Tzedek wrote that the 13 words of "V'hu Rachum" correspond to the 13 Attributes of Mercy. When the Rebbe was asked if shaving was permitted for business purposes, the Rebbe responded that if so, there would be no end to it...

In response to a question about why some people shave their beards, the Rebbe answered that these are people who either follow the opinion of the early authorities, or they believe they don't need to draw down the 13 Attributes of Mercy. The Rebbe added that we know that in order to "bring about" "Hashem, merciful and gracious G-d, etc." - we must grow a beard.

The Rebbe expressed that even though there are certain ways that halacha does not forbid, for Chassidim "this is forbidden, and causes damage to the neshama, and consequently also to the body."

There were Chassidim who became close to Chabad Chassidus, and the Rebbe directly encouraged them to make an effort and take upon themselves to be careful about growing a beard. For example, Rabbi Berel Weiss, whom the Rebbe spoke with about this in yechidus, and after he accepted it upon himself, the Rebbe gave him 13 dollar bills during dollars distribution, saying "for the 13 Tikunei Dikna."