Cutting One's Nails During Shavua Shechal Bo (the Week in which Tisha B’Av Falls)

The Taz (551:13) writes that one should not cut their nails during the week in which Tisha B’Av falls out (shevua shechal bo). This year, the ninth of Av coincides with Shabbos, and the fast of Tisha B’Av is observed on Sunday. Which days are considered shevua shechal bo?

As Tisha b’Av nears, we increase our public display of mourning. During the Three Weeks, the custom of Ashkenazim is to refrain from taking haircuts. Beginning Rosh Chodesh Av, we stop washing clothes. However, the Mishnah (Ta’anis 4:7) teaches that the actual rabbinic prohibition against taking a haircut or washing clothes is only the week in which Tisha b’Av falls out (shevua shechal bo). Since cutting nails is a less public display of mourning, some poskim question whether there is any prohibition at all, but Taz (551:13) maintains that it is permitted only up until shevua shechal bo. However, this year, because Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbos and is pushed off until Sunday, Shulchan Aruch (OC 551:4) cites two opinions as to whether there is a shevua shechal bo this year. The first opinion is that this year, there is no shevua shechal bo. Accordingly, the only day that one may not cut their nails is Sunday (on which Tisha B’Av is observed). The second opinion is that one may also not cut their nails on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the preceding week. However, on Thursday and Friday, it is permitted to cut one’s nails in honor of Shabbos. Rav Ovadia Yosef, zt”l (Yechaveh Daas 3:39) writes that although some are stringent in this matter, the first opinion is the primary one. As such, this year, one may cut his nails until Tisha b’Av.

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.