Cutting nails on Thursday

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Cutting nails on Thursday:[1]

Some[2] are particular to not cut the nails on Thursday.[3] [Thus beginning from Wednesday night one should not cut his nails.]

 

Q&A

If one will not have time to cut his nails on Friday may he be lenient to do so on Thursday?[4]

Yes.

 

If Yom Tov falls on Friday may one cut his nails on Thursday?[5]

Yes. It is a Mitzvah to do so.

 

May a Chasan and Kallah cut their nails on Thursday if their wedding is taking place that night?

If they did not cut the nails beforehand and will be unable to cut the nails on Thursday night, they may be cut on Thursday.

 

May one cut his toe nails on Thursday?

It is unclear if those which avoid cutting nails on Thursday are only particular regarding the hand nails.[6]

 

[1] 260/2

[2] The Aruch Hashulchan [260/6] argues against this custom. Likewise he writes that all these cautions mentioned by nails are not required by the letter of the law, and one who is not particular in them, has not done any transgression.

[3] The reason: As the nails begin growing on the 3rd day after being cut and hence if they are cut on Thursday they will begin growing on Shabbos, thus some avoid cutting it on Thursday. [ibid] Now, although there is no prohibition involved if the nails begin growing back on Shabbos, nevertheless it is not respectful that the nails which one ridded himself of in honor of Shabbos begins growing back on Shabbos. [Machatziz Hashekel 260/1] The above applies only to nails however a haircut may be given on Thursday being that hair begins to grow back that same day. [Kuntrus Achron 260/1]

Regarding if also the toe nails are not to be cut on Thursday according to this opinion: Perhaps one can say that this custom only applies to the hand nails being that they are visible. However the toe nails which are not visible, and thus there is no Mitzvah to cut them before Shabbos, then likewise there is no issue if they are cut on Thursday. Practically the M”B 260/6 rules that one is to cut the toe nails on Thursday. However the wording of Admur seems to imply that they avoid cutting all nails on Thursday. Vetzaruch Iyun.

[4] Aruch Hashulchan 260/6

[5] Aruch Hashulchan 260/6

[6] Perhaps one can say that this custom only applies to the hand nails being that they are visible. However the toe nails which are not visible, and thus there is no Mitzvah to cut them before Shabbos, then likewise there is no issue if they are cut on Thursday. Practically the M”B 260/6 rules that one is to cut the toe nails on Thursday. However the wording of Admur seems to imply that they avoid cutting all nails on Thursday. Vetzaruch Iyun.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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