Responsa for Makkot 41:1
קסבר רבי יוסי שריטה וגדידה אחת היא וכתיב התם למת
As Rabbi Yossi reasoned: "an incision [serita] and a gash [gedidah] are one in the same, and it is written there [in Deteruonomy 14:1] that is [specifically for the dead]".
Shut min haShamayim
Regarding cutting sidelocks. Did the Torah forbid this even with the use of scissors? The Torah only says "Do not round off" (Leviticus 19:27), not 'do not destroy.' Is there any sense in the argument to permit this, based on the source in the Tosefta,1cf. Sifra Kedoshim 6:4, Makkot 21a:6 whereby the laws pertaining to haircutting are juxtaposed to the laws pertaining to beard-shaving, and in both cases, one is not liable unless a razor-blade is used2This argument is rejected by Tosafot on Shevuot 2b:12.
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