Q&A: Shaving in the Cheek Area
Shaving in the Cheek Area
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Is there room to permit shaving with an electric shaver the area opposite the sidelocks, a little below the eye?
Stubble grows there for me, and in my opinion it doesn’t look good.
Is it permitted to shave in that area (it’s above the bone, not the sidelocks themselves but next to them) with an electric shaver?
Answer
Absolutely permitted.
Discussion on Answer
I don’t know how to define a width. Whatever normally grows on the average person as sidelocks and beard. There are opinions that one should not shave any part of the face with a razor, but here one can also take into account that an electric shaver is not necessarily considered like a razor (especially if it is a “kosher” shaver). See here regarding a shaver:
http://halachayomit.co.il/he/default.aspx?HalachaID=710
What exactly is the width of the sidelocks that must be left?
In terms of length, you have to leave them down to the bone, but what about the width?
In the lower part of the sidelock, the hair widens out toward the cheek; that hair grows in the area above the cheekbone.
Is it permitted to shave that hair?