The Beard: 13 Attributes of Mercy - Part II

00:00 The continuation to the earlier installment in regards to a beard and Yud Gimmel the thirteen attributes of mercy which are expressed and drawn down through a beard. We continue now with installment number two, quoting additional letters and talks from the Rebbe on this matter. A beard is a Tzelem Elokim. In the above contents, the Rebbe wrote to many questioners a letter on the subject of the beard and how it affects one's livelihood when the time comes to manage one's livelihood as simply and successful as it could be. The letter is published in the volume twenty-two of the Rebbe's Igris Kodesh, and the Rebbe writes as follows, as is translated here in English: "Since according to everyone, a full beard is a Tzelem Elokim, and according to everyone, one is much more praised while wearing a beard than conducting himself in the conduct which is in contrast to that. It is certain that by increasing in matters of Kedusha and when the image, the Tzelem Elokim, is visible on one's face, this increases the blessings of Hashem, blessed be He, who nourishes the world as a whole with his goodness, graciousness, kindness, and mercy, and in particular on which a man's livelihood depends. It is understood that the fulfillment of his heart's wishes to grow a beard adds also in regards to his livelihood, Parnassa." Another letter which appears in Likutei Sichos volume twelve, page two oh seven, in which the Rebbe explains the importance of growing a pear, beard and the Rebbe elaborates on the

02:04 background of the leniency in the earlier generations towards shaving, removing the beard. The fact, the Rebbe says that in certain places and times it was permissible for a true God-fearing Yid to remove the beard. So the Rebbe continues and explains, "It is clear and simple that I am not unaware that in some countries, including this country, the United States, genuine, truly God-fearing Yidden allowed shaving and with several explanations, et cetera." And surely the Rebbe says to this person, "You are also not unaware about the change which took place over the time, that in certain countries and certain times it seemed that the reason for permitting this was being that this was the only way to save many Yidden from a negative situation. Therefore, they labored and toiled, exerted themselves with great effort to find a Hetech, a permit, permission, halakhically." And the Rebbe concludes, "And that is sufficient and easy to understand. But in the present, Baruch Hashem, this is not the case at all in these times. Everyone who wants, wishes, has the ability in his hand," and the Rebbe continues, "I hope that it will be used, fulfilled in the fullest measure to spread Yiddishkeit without compromise wherever one can reach out, including also the fulfillment of having a full beard." In a talk that the Rebbe gave, Parashat Bereshit, Tav Shin Tes Vav, late 1954, the Rebbe mentioned a story, a story with a junge man with whom the Rebbe says, "I spoke about the matter of the beard and that after

04:14 the marriage he would allow to grow his beard, but he was not ready to guarantee that he would do so. Recently, some matters occurred," the Rebbe continues, "which made it difficult for him in the matter of Parnassa, livelihood, and nevertheless, he figured that it was a natural matter. Then another event happened. There was a certain business in which everyone succeeded besides him." And the Rebbe concluded, "When one is shown from above visible examples, this should lead him to an awakening in implying in a practical sense to grow his beard, to bring down the blessings that he needs." In the late 1980s, the Rebbe would distribute dollars to thousands of people every Sunday morning. Several times it happened that during the distribution of the dollars, primarily in the year Tav Shin Nun Alef, which is 1991, Yidden who had begun to grow beards at the time, many of them passed in front of the Rebbe, and the Rebbe saw that they began letting the beard grow, and the Rebbe gave each one of them thirteen dollar bills saying, "This is a profitable deal." The thirteen, of course, as we mentioned earlier, refer, reflect to the thirteen attributes of mercy. A letter that the Rebbe wrote on the fourth of Elul, 1969, to a Yid who had informed him that he had begun to grow a full beard. The Rebbe writes, "Shalom Uvracha," peace and blessing. "His undated letter was received, and I appreciate the good news, and it should be the will of Hashem that it

06:22 be fulfilled by him and in his household the words of the Tzemach Tzedek in his commentary on Tehillim on the pasuk VeHu Rachum, that He is the Merciful One, that through having a beard, one draws down the thirteen Tikkunim of Atik." Atik is the highest attribute in Keser. "A great measure of mercy, and as he concludes," the Tzemach Tzedek, "in his commentary regarding the great mercy in an extreme climax, that one inherits then a boundless portion to the greatest extreme." And the Rebbe concludes the letter with blessings to be inscribed and sealed for the good and to have a good and sweet year. We will Im Yirtze Hashem continue in the next installment.