עברית
Women
Regarding Why It Is Forbidden to Throw Away Nails?
Question
BS"D Shalom and blessings, Honorable Rabbi, I wanted to ask about nail clipping. Is it true that after a person passes away, they are obligated to collect all their clipped nails and therefore must throw them into the sewage? I heard this recently and it seems quite strange to me. Another question I wanted to ask regarding nail filing - after clipping the nails, they are sharp and can scratch, so I file them. Is it mandatory to file them only in the toilet or in the sink? And is it forbidden to file them such that they disintegrate on the floor? Thank you very much
Answer
Greetings,
1. The reason is as stated in the Gemara in Tractate Niddah (17a), that if a pregnant woman steps on nails, she might miscarry; therefore, one who burns their nails is considered pious (since there is no possibility that these nails could harm a pregnant woman), and one who buries them is righteous (because it is still possible that they might be found again, thus they are not considered a pious act, see Rashi there). And one who throws them away is considered wicked.
According to the above, it is a pious practice to burn the nails, although one may initially throw them into the toilet, which is preferable to burying them (see what is discussed in the book "Piskei Teshuvot" Siman 265, Section 9).
2. Filing nails is treated like nails, and therefore one should avoid throwing them in a place where a pregnant woman might pass by.
Best regards,
Hillel Meirs
