Talk:Shaving in Judaism

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Contents 1 Citations needed... 2 Wording 3 Holiness of beard in Kabbalah 4 Maimonides' writings

[edit] Citations needed...

I have used the {{fact}} ("citation needed") template here a few times because of the delicate and legal (i.e. Halakhic) nature and implications of the article. IZAK 08:26, 17 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Wording

I am not sure how to word this, but given that many shaving implements have 2 or 3 or more multiple parallel blades, but I would suspect are still frowned upon, one might want to change the wording a bit in spots. I am not sure how one might change it though.--Filll 14:01, 17 December 2006 (UTC)

I don't know if I understand exactly what you mean. Are you talking about the so-called "Lift-and-cut" shavers? Please elaborate. Thanks, DLand^TALK 18:43, 17 December 2006 (UTC)

Yes those are examples. They are very common. I could get a few brandnames if you need them.--Filll 18:54, 17 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Holiness of beard in Kabbalah

It is not enough to say that Zohar considers the beard "holy". This statement is meaningless without explaining (albeit briefly -- if that's the goal) the reason. Kabbalah is not just a list of "esoteric" facts. It is a rational and logical system. Of course it's esoteric -- all Judaism is esoteric, as it all starts and ends with G-d, a supernatural being that is esoteric by definition. If you look at Judaism as a legal system, philosophy or a bunch of cultural customs, you're missing the point (whether you personally believe in it or not). I do believe the paragraph about the actual reasons for the beard's holiness can be shortened and paraphrased/summarized, however.

Aflyax 04:53, 25 June 2007 (UTC)

I'll try to summarize it in a satisfactory way, but it's difficult, considering the depth and complexity of the material.--DLand^TALK 13:04, 25 June 2007 (UTC)

On second thought, I think that even a short summary of this excerpt would be beyond the scope of this article. Please note that this is not meant to disparage the content of the excerpt - I just don't think that this is the place for it.--DLand^TALK 13:14, 25 June 2007 (UTC)

"Esoteric" means special knowledge restricted to a subgroup of initiated. See Esotericism. --Eliyak T·C 17:22, 25 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Maimonides' writings

The infobox cites Mishneh Torah: Moreh 3:37. This is not correct. The Moreh Nevuchim (Guide to the perplexed) is a separate book by Maimonides. The citation to Moreh Nevuchim 3:37 is correct. On page 359 of the Mossad HaRav Kook edition (Jerusalem, 1977, Maimonides writes:

וכבר בארנו בחבורנו הגדול כי גלוח פאת ראש ופאת זקן נאסר בגלל היותו עדי כומרי עבודה זרה.

"We already explained in our large book [the Mishneh Torah] that shaving the edge of the head and the edge of the beard was forbidden because it is the practice of ministers to idol-worship." [My translation.]

The citation to the Mishneh Torah is Hilkhot Avodah Zarah (Laws of idol-worship) 12:7, and I quote:

דרך כהני עובדי כוכבים היה להשחית זקנם. לפיכך אסרה תורה להשחית הזקן.

"The habit of ministers to idol-worship was to destroy their beards. Therefor the Torah forbade destroying the beard." [My translation.]

Please fix the infobox and add these citations to the article. 71.174.228.123 (talk) 18:34, 24 April 2008 (UTC)