Daily Halacha Podcast - Daily Halacha By Rabbi Eli J. Mansour

There is a Misva to take a haircut and to shave on Ereb Yom Tob, so one does not begin Yom Tob looking disheveled. It is forbidden to take a haircut or shave during Hol Ha'mo'ed, even if one was unable to do so before Yom Tob due to circumstances beyond his control. Even if a Berit is held on Hol Ha'mo'ed, the father, Sandak and Mohel may not take a haircut or shave for the Berit. This prohibition applies even if one customarily shaves every day or every several days. There is an opinion permitting one to shave on Hol Ha'mo'ed if he did so on Ereb Yom Tob and the barber is a poor man who needs this work to earn money for food, but most other authorities dispute this ruling and it is not accepted as Halacha. A person who comes out of jail during Hol Ha'mo'ed is allowed to shave and take a haircut. Even if he had been in a Jewish prison which allowed him to shave and take a haircut on Ereb Yom Tob, he was likely not in the proper spirits to do so, and thus he is allowed to groom himself when he is released on H