By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com There is a fascinating halacha that applies to expectant mothers of which many of us may not be fully aware. But first, a quick overview. According to recent statistics, there are over 4000 mani-ped salons in New York City and its immediate environs alone. The very first one was started in 1878 on West 23rd Street in Manhattan. It was started by an early female entrepreneur named Mary Cobb and was called, “Mrs. Cobb’s Manicure Parlors.” Back then, they charged $1.25 for a manicure. Within a decade, her business was thriving, her clientele ranging from socialites to celebrities to, well, let’s just leave it as, the less yeshivesh of New York society. Until the past fifty years, however, it seems that it was not the norm for most observant Jews to get mani-pedis at a salon. Rather, these matters were tended to on ones own. In the 1970’s, there was an influx of Korean immigrants to New York City who, in the words of author, Suzanne Shapiro, “took something that was once a luxury and drove the price down.” Her book is called, ““Nails: the Story of the Modern Manicure.” It seems that, in the vast commercialization of nail salons, a time-saving measure among the manicurists was enacted to just “let the nail clips go flying all over the place.” Prior to this, normative practice was to carefully put the clips away. The newer development , however, seems to be problematic for expectant mothers according to the Gemorah in Nidah 17a: The Gemorah tells us that one who cuts his nails and throws them into a public area is accountable for his soul. The Gemara explains that this is dangerous because a pregnant woman might pass over them, and this can cause her to miscarry. The Gemorah initially thought to limit this halakha to the following: only when one removes his nails with scissors [bigenosteri] only when one removes the nails of his hand and his foot together only when he did not cut anything else after his nails, but if he cut something else after them, we have no problem with it. However, the Gemara concludes with the comment that, ultimately, this is not true and that we are concerned in all cases. HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM With regard to removing one’s nails, the Gemorah further taught: “Three matters were stated with regard to removing nails: One who burns them is pious, as he eradicates them entirely; one who buries them is on the slightly lower level of a righteous individual, as they might be dug up; and one who simply throws them where a person might step upon them is wicked.” It would seem that burying them is on a slightly lower level because there is a chance that the nail could somehow resurface. There are commentaries, however, who provide explanations that the nails are indicative of of mosros – excess and that it is a statement of affirming a life of spirituality over a life where one pursues just luxuries. THE REASON FOR THE PROHIBITION Regardless, it may be interesting to explore the following two questions. What is the reason for this prohibition, and why is it an issue that seems to be taken so seriously by chazal? Both […]
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