Haircuts And Shaving During The Three Weeks

The Talmud[1] tells us that only one who has properly mourned the Temple’s destruction will merit to see its rebuilding. Accordingly, the three-week period between the fast of the seventeenth of Tammuz and Tishah b’Av, known as Bein ha-Metzarim, was established by the Rabbis[2] as a period of mourning over the destruction of the two Batei ha-Mikdash. To create an atmosphere of mourning, they restricted certain activities that are normally permitted. What are these restrictions? One of them[3] is the injunction against men, women and children taking a haircut or a shave. These are the basic rules[4] :

1. It is permitted to trim a mustache that interferes with eating.[5]

2. It is permitted to pluck one’s eyebrows or eyelashes.[6]

3. Married women may cut hair that is protruding from their head covering[7].

4. It is permitted to comb one’s hair even though some hair will get torn out while combing[8].

5. Nail cutting is permitted[9].

6. A mourner who completed his mourning period during the Three Weeks may take a haircut and a shave[10].

7. The prohibition of haircutting applies even to small children under the age of chinuch[11]. Thus if an upsheren falls during the Three Weeks, it should either be moved up or postponed[12].

8. If absolutely necessary, it is permitted to take a haircut or a shave on the evening preceding the Fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz[13].

9. On the day of a baby’s bris[14], the father, the sandak and the mohel may take a haircut[15].

Question: In some communities it has become customary to shave or trim one’s beard on erev Shabbos during the Three Weeks in honor of Shabbos. Is there a halachic source for this leniency?

Discussion: Yes, there is. It is based on the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch,[16] which permits laundering [during the Nine Days] for Shabbos if one has no other garments to wear. Magen Avraham, quoted by all later authorities and the Mishnah Berurah[17], wonders why a similar leniency does not exist concerning haircutting as well. He answers that haircutting is not permitted for Shabbos since people do not take a haircut every week, while everyone needs clean clothing every week. Thus the Rabbis allowed laundering for Shabbos under certain circumstances but did not allow haircutting.

Based on this Magen Avraham, it may be argued[18] that this restriction applies only to taking a haircut but not to shaving. Many men shave several times a week or even daily, so that shaving is comparable to laundering, not to haircutting. Accordingly, it would be permitted to shave on erev Shabbos, and possibly this is the source for those who do so[19]. While those who have this custom are permitted to rely upon it[20], most communities did not accept this leniency[21]. As with all established customs, one may not deviate from his traditional custom.

Question: Many people involved in the business, academic or professional world shave or trim their beards throughout the Three Weeks. Is this allowed?

Discussion: While Shulchan Aruch and Mishnah Berurah do not mention such a leniency, it is mentioned by several contemporary poskim[22]. Rav M. Feinstein[23] rules that the custom not to shave during the Three Weeks does not apply to situations where a monetary loss would result. Accordingly, if one would incur a loss by not shaving, he may shave. Rav Feinstein writes that this leniency does not apply to the week of Tishah b’Av itself (i.e., from the Sunday before Tishah b’Av until Tishah b’Av), where it would be prohibited to shave even if a monetary loss would be sustained.

Rav Feinstein further explains[24] that shaving is permitted only if otherwise a loss would be incurred. If appearing unshaven would merely engender ridicule [or would cause one to suffer embarrassment], the leniency does not apply.

Based on Rav Feinstein’s rulings, the following rules apply: