Cutting Nails During the Seven and Thirty Days for a Mohel

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Question

Is a mohel allowed to cut nails for the purpose of performing a circumcision?

Answer

If there is no other mohel in the city, it is permitted to use scissors. If there is another mohel in the city, during the seven days it is only permitted by using teeth or hands. During the thirty days, one can be lenient and cut the nails needed for the circumcision.

Source

Rema, Siman 393, Seif 3: "And it is permitted for him to fix the nails and shave for the circumcision, but if there is another mohel, it is forbidden." Similarly, it is written in Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Siman 271, Seif 13, and in Pitchei Teshuva, Siman 390, Seif Katan 4, where it is written that the Rema permitted when there is no other mohel, even with scissors, since without scissors it is permitted to everyone even during the seven days. In Pri Megadim, Orach Chaim, Mishbetzot Zahav, Siman 551, Seif Katan 13, it is written: "And similarly, during the thirty days, if there is another mohel, it is forbidden in Eliyah Rabbah to fix his nails, as by law it is forbidden, and it is brought what is written in Yoreh Deah, 381, in Taz, that all by custom is permitted, but by law it is forbidden. And here it can be said that they only prohibited for pleasure and beautification, but cutting nails for circumcision, it can be said that only during the seven days it is forbidden if there is another mohel, not because of the nails but because there is some joy, and this requires study. In Nekudot HaKesef, Siman 390, it is written: "Only fixes two thumb nails that are necessary for circumcision when they are slanted and pointed, and fixes them on the sides so that they are pointed for the circumcision, and it is easy to understand."

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