#15: Taking a Haircut for Shabbat

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski
  1. It is a mitzvah to cut one’s hair on Friday in honor of Shabbat if it is long (Shulchan Aruch 260:1; Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchatah 42:46 and n.158). As with regard to bathing, it is recommended, though not required, to take a haircut on Friday in honor of Shabbat (Mishnah Berurah 260:5).
  2. As with regard to bathing, taking haircuts is also relevant to men and women[EO2] (Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchatah 42:48). However, most poskim hold that one should not do so even on Fridays during the Three Weeks and Sefirat Ha’omer periods, when it is customary not to take haircuts (SSK 42:52-53).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.