Thread: Shaving and Orthodox Judaism story

While I'm not Jewish, I was in New York for a friend's wedding, and she is actually Hasidic, which is a very strict sect of Orthodoxy. Naturally, I was the only clean shaven one there as most Hasidic Jews do not shave at all, and thus grow very long beards. My girlfriend, who's conservative, told me not to bring up my new straight razor to anyone, despite my palpable excitement, lest it offend and tip them off to my goy roots.

Well, I was walking with the groom(who is Australian and very mellow), bride, and some of the bride's friends, including my girlfriend, up Park Avenue and passed a Casswell-Massey. When the groom asked why I would be interested in the shop because all he saw were soaps,I couldn't contain my excitement at looking at their shaving brushes. The look on my girlfriend's face turned from interested in their soaps to horror as I described, in great detail, my shaving regimen and the pros of straight razors and badger brushes. The entire conversation and walk screetched to a halt as both my gf and the bride and her friends were terrified to hear the topic I was discussing.

The groom turned to me, and said with a smile, "Well I guess we should go in then. I could use a shave." After I finished laughing, I turned to my girlfriend and immediately said, "See? Jews make jokes too." It was really nice to rub it in her face.

Yeah, it's always fun to rub it in a girlfriend's face.

I liked that little story.

bet she was still p1ssed

If my first experience with a sharp blade was being circumcised as a baby, I think I'd avoid them as much as possible too.

Did you end up sleeping on the sofa for the rest of the week?

One of my brother's is Jewish, living kosher for many years, fluent in Hebrew, bar mitzva and everything. He told me that straight razors are actually not kosher because they have only one blade. I guess it says somewhere in the Torah that two blades (meaning shears, but often loosely interpreted to include twin blades too) should be used to cut whiskers.

X

Originally Posted by xman

One of my brother's is Jewish, living kosher for many years, fluent in Hebrew, bar mitzva and everything. He told me that straight razors are actually not kosher because they have only one blade. I guess it says somewhere in the Torah that two blades (meaning shears, but often loosely interpreted to include twin blades too) should be used to cut whiskers.

X

Firstly, I think that you guess wrong, the Torah states that we should remain unshaven and "not round the hair around our ears" which is why you see "Peyos " or sidelocks on the ultra orthodox, I can see no reason why if one were to shave, and some orthodox people do a single blade would not be acceptable.
Although I would have to consult a Rabbi to be certain of that. I would imagine that the response would vary according to which Rabbi one consulted.

I am not terribly religious and do shave.

Secondly no religious jew is going to be offended by you shaving, eating pork or any other such matter, the onus is upon them to follow those rules not you. You are free to live as you wish, within the constraints of whichever if any faith you practice.

When I welcome non Jewish friends to family functions, synagogue services or whatever , I always go out of my way to ensure that they feel comfortable, and try to give them an explanation of what and why we are doing.

Should they make a "fau pax" real or imagined, again I try to ensure that they do not feel akward or embaressed, after all who would want their friends to feel that way?.

I hope that you enjoyed the wedding

Shalom!

It was quite an experience...but not as much fun as proving to my girlfriend that I'm not an embarassment

I'm glad we enjoyed that little ditty. My reflections on Orthodox Jews is just waht the above poster said: Generally tolerant and accepting, even if you stick out as badly as I did. Just goes to show that my gf is a lot more condascending toward me than she thinks.

Leviticus 19:26 says "Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard." The talmud interpreted this to mean that you should not scrape it with a knife. Conservative Jews allow electric shavers because the hair is cut by a scissor action, i.e., two blades against each other but not scraping the face.

As far as your girlfriend, I think you misunderstood what she was asking you. She was asking you not to embarrass her by making it obvious that you were not Jewish. It had nothing to do with the fact that they wouldn't be gracious and tolerant to you, but that they would think less of her for dating a non-Jew. Orthodox Jews are very intolerant of other Jews that date/marry outside the tribe.

Originally Posted by Chimensch

Orthodox Jews are very intolerant of other Jews that date/marry outside the tribe.

Not just Orthodox. My wife is Jewish (her parents were members of a Reform synagogue when they lived in the UK). It took me a long time to earn their trust and respect so that, ultimately, they could stomach the idea of their youngest daughter marrying out.