Q. Hello Rav,
I was at the Jewish barber the other day and wondering if he is allowed to cut Jewish peoples payos area extremely short if they request? it would appear that he cuts the hair of many non-observant Jews and that area is often shaved off completely. Does he have a heter to allowed them to do this aveira or does he need to refuse and possibly loose his customers?
thanks.
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that if the barber does not use a blade razor but an electrical shaver or a similar trimmer which is permitted in Halacha, is careful not to shave close to the skin and maintains key hair areas, he may be lenient and in need continue shaving his non-observant Jewish customers. The above takes into account the opinion of the Rambam as presented by the Chasam Sofer (Y.D. 139) that if a minimum of forty hairs remains of the payos, one may be lenient.
The Rov advises that the barber contact a competent rabbi to instruct him on the details of the above areas and the minimum required length for the hair. etc.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
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