Hayom Yom 22 Elul - Before rebuking one should cut one’s nails

The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman · Sep 3, 2026 · 5m

תּוֹרַת הַחֲסִידוּת דּוֹרֶשֶׁת

The teachings of Chassidus demand

כִּי תְחִלָּה לְהוֹכָחָה

that before rebuking one’s fellowman,

צְרִיכִים לְהָסִיר אֶת הַצִּפָּרְנַיִם

one should “cut one’s nails,”

נִיט שְׁטעֶכעֶן זִיךְ

so that people will not scratch each other —

כִּי בְּטוּפְרְהָא אֲחִידָן

for [the forces of kelipah] cling to the nails.

יעֶדעֶר שְׁטאָך אִיז קְלִיפָּה וְסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא

Every prick [unleashes] kelipah and sitra achra.

וְאַחַר נְטִילַת הַצִּפָּרְנַיִם

Then, after cutting the nails,

צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת נְטִילַת יָדַיִם

one must perform a ritual washing of the hands.

כִּמְבוֹאָר…