Cutting Nails During the Thirty Days for a Sensitive Person

During the thirty days of mourning, a person has very long nails. It is very unpleasant for him, and he does not know how to cut them with his teeth or hands. Can he ease the cutting of nails using scissors?

Rabbi's answer: Not everyone can claim to be sensitive, as explained in Siman 581, and one must consult a wise person. The priorities for sensitive individuals are as follows: first with teeth or hands, one can start with scissors and finish with mouth or hands. If this solution is not comfortable, one can ease the cutting of nails by a non-Jew, and if not possible by a non-Jew, another Jew should cut. If another Jew is not possible, in a case where it is unpleasant, one can ease it by oneself.

It is permitted to start with scissors and continue with hands as written in Shvui, Part 3, Siman 100. And if it is unpleasant, by a non-Jew and by oneself, as written in Erech Lechem, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 290. And here are his words: "It seems to me to permit for a sensitive person who is not comfortable cutting with teeth or eating with long nails, and it is proper to cut them by a non-Jew:" Certainly, it is preferable by another Jew, as explained in Rema, Siman 290, paragraph 7, where in the case of a mitzvah immersion, a woman can cut with the help of another Jewish woman.