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Cutting One's Nails: Difference between revisions

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==Disposing of one's nail clippings==
==Disposing of One's Nail Clippings==
# When one cuts (or bites) one's nails, one must make sure that none of the clippings remain on the floor. It’s best to burn one's nail clippings. The next best option is to bury them.<ref> Mishna Brurah 260:6 quoting the gemara Moed Katan 18a.  
# When one cuts or bites one's nails, one must make sure that none of the clippings remain on the floor. It is best to burn one's nail clippings. The next best option is to bury them.<ref> Gemara Moed Katan 18a, Mishna Brurah 260:6, Yalkut Yosef 260:3.
The Gemara Moed Katan 18a writes that if a pregnant woman steps on nail clippings there is a danger that she might lose the child she is [[carrying]]. The gemara continues that when one cuts (or bites) one's nails, one must make sure that none of the clippings remain on the floor. It’s best to burn one's nail clippings. The next best option is to bury them. This is brought as halacha by the Mishna Brurah 260:6 and [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin). Rabbi Enkin quoting the Bear Hetiev 260:2 writes that the reason for this is that before the sin of the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve wore garments made of a fingernail-type substance. After they sinned God took away this Divinely provided clothing. Since it was Eve who was essentially responsible for this loss, our fingernails – which recall these clothes – are said to bring harm to pregnant women. Of course, this is a spiritual and not a scientific matter. </ref> Some poskim allow flushing one's nails down the toilet or washing them down the sink if one leaves the water running for a few minutes.<ref>[https://www.kof-k.org/articles/021909100243Doc13.pdf Halachically Speaking (vol 4, issue 22)] quoting Rav Yisrael Belsky allows flushing one's nails down the sink. Halachically Speaking also extends this to washing the nails down the sink if one leaves the water running for a few minutes. [https://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?PageIndex=117&ClipID=1872 Rabbi Mansour] also assumes that this would be acceptable.</ref>
* The Gemara Moed Katan 18a writes that if a pregnant woman steps on nail clippings there is a danger that she might lose the child she is [[carrying]]. The gemara continues that when one cuts (or bites) one's nails, one must make sure that none of the clippings remain on the floor. It’s best to burn one's nail clippings. The next best option is to bury them. This is brought as halacha by the Mishna Brurah 260:6 and [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin). Rabbi Enkin quoting the Bear Hetiev 260:2 writes that the reason for this is that before the sin of the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve wore garments made of a fingernail-type substance. After they sinned God took away this Divinely provided clothing. Since it was Eve who was essentially responsible for this loss, our fingernails – which recall these clothes – are said to bring harm to pregnant women. Of course, this is a spiritual and not a scientific matter. </ref> Some poskim allow flushing one's nails down the toilet or washing them down the sink if one leaves the water running for a few minutes.<ref>[https://www.kof-k.org/articles/021909100243Doc13.pdf Halachically Speaking (vol 4, issue 22)] quoting Rav Yisrael Belsky allows flushing one's nails down the sink. Halachically Speaking also extends this to washing the nails down the sink if one leaves the water running for a few minutes. [https://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?PageIndex=117&ClipID=1872 Rabbi Mansour] also assumes that this would be acceptable.</ref>
 
==When to Cut One's Nails==
==When to Cut One's Nails==
# It is interesting to note that whenever the Arizal would cut his hair he would do so before midday.<ref> [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) quoting Ben Ish Chai, Lech Lecha. </ref>
# It is interesting to note that whenever the Arizal would cut his hair he would do so before midday.<ref> [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) quoting Ben Ish Chai, Lech Lecha. </ref>
# It is recommended not to cut one’s hair or nails on [[Rosh Chodesh]].<ref> [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) quoting Rabbi Yehuda Hachassid 48</ref>
# It is recommended not to cut one’s hair or nails on [[Rosh Chodesh]].<ref> [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) quoting Rabbi Yehuda Hachassid 48</ref> Sephardim do not have this practice.<ref>Yalkut Yosef 260:2</ref>
# One should arrange for one's hair and nails to be cut on Erev [[Shabbat]].<ref> Shulchan Aruch 260:1 </ref>
# One should arrange for one's hair and nails to be cut on Erev [[Shabbat]].<ref> Shulchan Aruch O.C. 260:1 </ref>
# Ashkenazim have a practice to cut one's toenails on Thursday and fingernails on Friday or Thursday night<ref>Eshel Avraham Mbuchatch 260:1 writes that the night follows the the next day for cutting fingernails on Thursday night.</ref>. There is also a practice specifically not to cut fingernails on Thursday.<Ref>Magen Avraham (Introduction to 260)</ref> Sephardim don't have these practices.<ref>Or Letzion 2:47:4</ref>
# Ashkenazim have a practice to cut one's toenails on Thursday and fingernails on Friday or Thursday night.<ref>Eshel Avraham Mbuchatch 260:1 writes that the night follows the the next day for cutting fingernails on Thursday night.</ref> There is also a practice specifically not to cut fingernails on Thursday.<Ref>Magen Avraham (Introduction to 260), Mishna Brurah 260:6</ref> Sephardim don't have these practices.<ref>Or Letzion 2:47:4, Yalkut Yosef 260:3</ref>


==How to Cut One's Nails==
==How to Cut One's Nails==
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