Mirror For Women Only?

I received an email from a tyere yid quoting the Shulchan Aruch who forbids a male to look in a mirror [see previous post] because it is the way of women to do so and is therefore a transgression of "Lo yilbash beged isha". This is correct. [Even though I am sure that the point of the post was not lost on him].

However the Rema in his comments on the S.A. and many of the later sources say that in our day and age it is no longer an exclusively female act to look in a mirror and is therefore permitted for men.

Many Chassidim are still careful not to look in a mirror. Those who are careful about this are blessed. Vanity is not a desired trait.

A mai'seh with a non-chossid the heilige Chazon Ish:

One time he was in a room and started walking towards the other side. He was asked where he was going and he explained that he sees a distinguished looking Jew at the other end of the room and was going to say Shalom. There was in fact no other Jew at the other end of the room.

He had merely seen his own reflection in the mirror.


זכות הצדיקים יעזור ויגן ויושיע!!