From the Rav’s Desk: May I cut my nails this week, the week of Tishe Beav Nidcheh

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Question: [Tuesday, 5th Menachem Av 5782]

I forgot to cut my nails last week before Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av which fell on Friday and did not do so on Friday because it was Rosh Chodesh, and I am not particular to cut my nails on every Erev Shabbos. My question is regarding if I may I do so this week or is this week considered to be the week of Tishe Beav, even though Tishe Beav is pushed off to Sunday?

 

Answer:

In general, we abstain from cutting nails during the week of Tishe Beav, however, when Tishe Beav falls on Shabbos and is deferred to Sunday, then one may cut his nails on Erev Shabbos, the 8th of Av. You should not cut your nails during other days of the week, unless it is for the need of a mitzvah or for medical purposes.

Explanation: It is permitted to cut nails up until the week of Tishe Beav. In the week of Tishe Beav there is a dispute amongst the Poskim as to whether it is forbidden to cut nails or not, and practically we are stringent. There is also a dispute amongst the Poskim as to whether there is a concept of a week of Tishe Beav when Tishe Beav falls on Shabbos and is pushed off to Sunday. Practically, Ashkenazim rule that the entire week starting from Sunday has the status of the week of Tishe Beav. Nonetheless, they conclude that one may cut his nails on Erev Shabbos in honor of Shabbos. Now, although some Poskim rule that this only applies to a person who cuts his nails every erev Shabbos, practically, there is room to be lenient even if one does not do so every erev Shabbos being that the entire concept is a dispute.

Sources: See regarding cutting nails in the week of Tishe Beav: Stringent: 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; Lenient: Conclusion of M”A 551:11; Noda Beyehuda Kama Y.D. 99; See regarding cutting nails on Erev Shabbos when Tishe Beav falls on Sunday: M”A ibid; Elya Raba ibid; Levushei Serud 551 on M”A ibid that so applies even according to Taz; Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 13; M”B ibid; Kaf Hachaim ibid See regarding if there is a week of Tishe Beav when Tishe Beav falls on Shabbos and is pushed off to Sunday: Michaber 551:4; Shulchan Gavoa 551:27; Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 12; Moed Lekol Chaiy 10:25; Kaf Hachaim 551:78; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:23; Yabia Omer 6:5; Yechaveh Daas 3:39

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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