21 The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that, on a personal level, the “fingernails” represent the part of us that can be used to prick and scratch someone. The Zohar explains that the forces of impurity are very much connected to the part of the fingernails that protrude above our fingers and are cut off. ![]() While the above precautions about cutting one’s nails aren’t found in the Talmud, the Talmud does tell us that “the righteous bury their nails, the pious burn them, and the wicked carelessly discard them.” The explanation given for this is that nail clippings must be carefully disposed of, lest a pregnant woman step over them and miscarry 20 (For more on that, see Nail Clippings and Pregnant Women.) The Ashkenazic custom is to not cut one’s nails on Chol Hamoed-the intermediate days of the Jewish holidays-because one should go into the holiday already well-groomed, and one should not push off grooming himself until he has some free time after the beginning of the holiday. Rabbi Yehudah he-Chassid (1150–1217) cautions that for mystical reasons, one should be careful not to cut his hair or nails on Rosh Chodesh (the Jewish New Moon). On the topic of cutting nails, here are some additional precautions (in brief): Rosh Chodesh ![]() 16 Additionally, if for whatever reason you know you won’t be able to cut your fingernails on Friday, you can cut them on Thursday. 14 Therefore, if both your fingernails and toenails are in need of being cut, you should cut your fingernails on Friday and your toenails on Thursday (or according to R. On a practical level, it is more important that the fingernails, rather than the toenails, be cut in honor of the Shabbat. 12 After all, the whole point of cutting them to begin with is to honor the Shabbat. 11 Others, however, hold that one shouldn’t cut his nails on Thursday, since they start regrowing on the third day from when they were cut, and we don’t want them to start regrowing on Shabbat. 10 Therefore, one suggestion is to cut one’s toenails on Thursday and fingernails on Friday. We are also warned that it is inauspicious to cut the nails of both the hands and feet on the same day. This is where things get a bit complicated. Most, however, seem to be of the opinion that one should cut his nails on days that are even closer to Shabbat, i.e., Friday (or Thursday), when it is more discernable that the nails are being cut in preparation of the holy day. Why? Because we trim our nails in honor of Shabbat, and the days from Wednesday to Friday have a connection 7 to the upcoming Shabbat. In other words, cut your nails from Wednesday to Friday. For this, we read the rest of the mnemonic: Now that you know the order of nail-cutting, you may wonder when to cut them. 5 Here is a diagram of the full sequence:Įven though there are some who are of the opinion that one need not be careful about cutting nails in this order, most write that ideally one should be careful about it. On your right hand, start with the index finger. In other words, when cutting your nails, start with your left ring finger, and then alternate every other finger. This phrase is actually a mnemonic that tells us the proper sequence of cutting nails, and when to do so. ![]() This literally translates as “question without answer,” which some take as an indicator that the deeper reasons behind this custom are not readily apparent. Sounds mysterious? Well, to add to the mystery, here is a cryptic Hebrew phrase related to this custom: 3 1 There we are told that one should be careful not to cut his nails in order, since it can bring forgetfulness, poverty, and premature death of one’s children. The earliest mention seems to be in a version of Masechet Kallah quoted by the Machzor Vitry, written by Rabbi Simchah ben Shmuel of Vitry (who passed away in 1105, the same year as his teacher, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki ( Rashi)). There is indeed an ancient custom of not cutting nails sequentially.
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