May One Cut or File Their Nails During the Three Weeks?

Cutting nails during the Three Weeks is permitted. Some prohibit nail cutting during the week in which Tisha B’Av occurs. Even the stringent opinion permits cutting nails during that week for a mitzvah purpose, such as on Erev Shabbos for the honor of the Shabbos (Mishna Berura 551:20 and in Shaar HaTzion 551:27, quoting a disagreement between Magen Avraham and Taz). Filing nails has the same halacha as nail cutting (heard from Rav Dovid Cohen, Shlita).

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt”l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.