Mistabra Press מסתברא

Teshuvot

Contemporary responsa, each one published as a short English book with the Hebrew sources beside the translation. Download the PDF free. Printed copies delivered to your home are coming soon.

Teshuva
בדין גילוח הזקן במכונת גילוח On Shaving the Beard with an Electric Shaver
R. Yitzḥak Berdugo Mistabra Press
New

On Shaving the Beard with an Electric Shaver

R. Yitzḥak Berdugo · October 2026

Is an electric shaver a razor or a pair of scissors? This responsum works through the Gemara in Makkot and Nazir, the Rishonim, the Rambam’s exact wording and the modern posekim, and argues that the Torah measures the prohibition by the result of the shave, not by how the tool is built.

The ruling: a shaver that cuts so close that no hair can be seen should be forbidden, at the very least as a doubt in a Torah law.

Download the PDF Printed copy: coming soon
Length
40 pages
Language
English, with the Hebrew sources
PDF
Free
Paperback
Coming soon

Inside the book

Seven chapters and a ruling, with diagrams of how a razor, scissors and a shaver each cut, a glossary and an index of every source cited.

  1. What Hashḥatah MeansThe Gemara’s test, and how close a razor and scissors each cut.
  2. The Electric ShaverHow shavers work, and which of the two they resemble.
  3. The Screen as a Second BladeThe lenient view, and why the author is not persuaded by it.
  4. A Shaving That DestroysThe reason for the prohibition, and the Aḥaronim who were strict even with scissors.
  5. Scissors “Like a Razor”What ke’ein ta’ar means in Rashi, the Rambam, Tosafot and the Sifra.
  6. The Rambam’s PaturWhy the Rambam wrote “exempt” and not “permitted.”
  7. What the Eye SeesWhy the Torah measures by what onlookers can see.

Two ways to read it

On your screen

The complete book as a PDF, laid out for reading on a phone, tablet or computer, or for printing at home.

Download the PDF

On your shelf

A paperback printed when you order it and delivered to your door by Amazon. The printed edition is being prepared.

Coming soon

More teshuvot are in preparation.