From the Rav’s Desk: 1) This year, may one cut nails during the nine days? 2) Oiling squeaky hinges on Shabbos

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  1. Question: [Sunday 2nd Menachem Av 5781]

May I cut my nails during the nine days? What about on erev Shabbos?

 

Answer:

This year that Tisha B’Av falls on Sunday [as opposed to falling on Shabbos and then being deferred to Sunday] it is permitted to cut nails during the entire nine days. This applies throughout the week including Erev Shabbos.

Explanation: There is a three way dispute amongst the Poskim regarding the regulation of cutting nails during the three week period, with some permitting it entirely, and others limiting it only from the week of Tisha b’Av, and others limiting it throughout the three weeks. Practically the custom is like the middle opinion to limit it only from the week of Tisha B’av. Now, this year that the actual date of Tisha b’Av falls on Sunday [as opposed to falling on Shabbos and being pushed off] there is no concept of “a week of Tisha b’Av,” and therefore there is no regulation against cutting nails this year.

Sources: See regarding limiting cutting nails to the week of Tisha b’Av: Opinion in M”A 551:11 [although is unclear if he refers to all nine days or only week of Tisha Beav]; Taz 551:13; Elya Raba 551:7; Mateh Yehuda 551:12; Chayeh Adam 133:17; Kitzur SHU”A 122:5; Derech Hachaim 4; Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 13; M”B 551:20; Kaf Hachaim 551:48; see regarding the definition of the we could Tisha b’Av: Michaber 551:4 in first opinion; M”A 551:17 that this applies according to all [even according to the 2nd opinion in Michaber]; Tur in name of Smag; Biur Hagr”a; M”B 551:38; Kaf Hachaim 551:77; Other opinions: Some Poskim rule it is permitted to cut nails throughout the nine days, even during the week of Tisha B’av, as this is considered a private custom of Aveilus, in which we are more lenient during the public mourning of the Temple. [Conclusion of M”A 551:11; Noda Beyehuda Kama Y.D. 99] Other Poskim rule one may not cut nails throughout the three weeks. [Kneses Hagedola 551:41] This is not the accepted custom.

 

  1. Question: [Sunday 2nd Menachem Av 5781]

The hinges of the door of the shul are making a very squeaky noise which is quite annoying and disturbing people who are Davening. May I pour oil onto the hinges on Shabbos in order to get rid of the squeaky?

 

Answer:

It is forbidden for you to do so due to the prohibition of Tikkun Keli

Sources: SSH”K 23:43; 28:53 ; Shraga Hameir 6:101; Piskeiy Teshuvos 313 footnote 58 and 69

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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