Friday, January 25, 2008

Halocho #31 – Bathing for Shabbos

It's a mitzvah to bathe on Friday with warm water; or at least to wash ones face, hands and feet. It's also a mitzvah to shampoo ones hair, cut ones nails and have a haircut if needed. One should not cut finger and toe nails on the same day. One doesn’t cut [finger] nails on Thursday as then they begin growing (and looking unkempt) on Shabbos. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 72:12, 14 Shabbat Shalom

1 comment:

  1. Somebody asked me:

    Hi Danny!
    Thank you so much for the daily halachot! It's really a pleasure that even in facebook I can always have a taste of Torah!

    I learned that there is a specific order to cut one's nails. Do you know it?
    Thank you very much!

    I responded:

    Hi

    Thanks for writing in, the feedback gives me energy to continue.

    Regarding cutting nails, the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch in 72:14 says:

    One shouldn't cut ones finger and toe nails on the same day.
    Some people are particular not to cut nails in consecutive order, rather to skip, as follows:
    Assuming the thumb is finger #1 then on the right hand one should cut 2,4,1,3,5 and on the left hand 4,2,5,3,1

    This is not a Mitzva in the Torah, but an ancient tradition that some people have.

    Have a wonderful day,

    - Danny

    In the original, if you're curious:
    ואין לקוץ צפרני ידיו ורגליו ביום אחד,
    גם אין לקוץ צפרניו או לגלח שערות בראש חדש אפילו חל בערב שבת
    יש מקפידין שלא ליטול את הצפרנים כסדרן אלא בדילוג, דהיינו בימין מתחילין באצבע הסמוך לאגודל, והסימן: ב ד א ג ה
    ובשמאל מתחילין אצבע הרביעי והסימן: ד ב ה ג א

    ReplyDelete