Question:Is it permitted to cut nails on Chol Hamo’ed? And does it make any difference if they were cut before Yom Tov and I would like to cut them again towards the end of Chol Hamo’ed? Discussion:There is a machlokes tano’im regarding whether or not it is permitted to cut nails on Chol Hamo’ed (Mo’ed Koton 17b). The halocho follows Shmuel who rules in line with the view of Rav Yossi who permits cutting nails on Chol Hamo’ed. Regarding cutting hair on Chol Hamo’ed the Tur (Siman 531) quotes an opinion (the Tur quotes this opinion in the name of Rabbeinu Tam but in fact this opinion does not appear in Tosfos and is quoted anonymously by the Hagohos Oshri in the beginning of Mo’ed Koton) who maintains that since the reason that Chazal forbade haircutting on Chol Hamo’ed is in order to create an impetus to have a haircut before Yom Tov, if one did have a haircut or shave before Yom Tov one is now allowed to have a haircut or shave on Chol Hamo’ed. The Tur questions this opinion, because were it to be permitted to cut hair in such circumstances on Chol Hamo’ed we should find mention of this leniency in the Gemoro (which enumerates all the other situations of permissibility to cut hair on Chol Hamo’ed). Discussion: The Shulchan Aruch (Siman 532 Se’if 1) rules that it is permitted to cut nails on Chol Hamo’ed, both of the hand and of the foot, and even with scissors. The Remo (ibid) quotes stringent opinions who prohibit cutting nails on Chol Hamo’ed and writes that the minhag is to be stringent and not cut nails, with the exception of a tevilas mitzvah. The Magen Avraham (s.k. 1) writes that a person who cut his nails prior to Yom Tov is permitted to cut his nails again on Chol Hamo’ed. The reasoning he gives for this is the [aforementioned] opinion of Rabbeinu Tam who allows one to shave on Chol Hamo’ed if one shaved prior to Yom Tov. The Levushei Srod and Mishna Berura (s.k. 2) explain that although regarding cutting hair we do not rely on the opinion of Rabbeinu Tam, regarding cutting nails which is far more lenient [because according to most Rishonim, and the Shulchan Aruch it is completely permitted to cut nails on Chol Hamo’ed] we rely on the opinion of Rabbeinu Tam. The Aruch Hashulchan (Siman 532 Se’if 2) writes that if a person cut his nails [several days] prior to Yom Tov and consequently on Erev Yom Tov there was not enough nail growth to warrant cutting he is permitted to cut his nails on Chol Hamo’ed. Conclusion: The Shulchan Aruch rules that it is permitted to cut nails on Chol Hamo’ed, both of the hand and of the foot, and even with scissors and this opinion is followed by Sephardim. The Remo writes that the minhag is to be stringent and not cut nails, with the exception of a tevilas mitzvah. This is the minhag of Ashkenazim. We have also seen a few leniencies even according to the opinion of the Remo: |
Chol Hamo’ed
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