- It is a mitzvah to bathe your entire body in hot water on erev Shabbos and erev Yom Tov. Cold water will not suffice unless afterwards you sit in a hot sauna. If you don’t have enough for your whole body, use the hot water to wash your face, hands and feet (where people walk barefoot) – in that order. One that does not fulfill this mitzva will not be punished. (ShA1 – MB1,4,5 – ShaT * – BeH “kul”)
- If you aren’t able to bathe and haircut on Friday, you can fulfill this mitzva on Thursday. The closer to Shabbos the better, but watch out from coming too close – to be bathing, combing your hair, and wringing out the towel after dark is chillul Shabbos. (MB1,5)
- It is a mitzva to shampoo your hair and clip your nails on erev Shabbos. Some poskim write not to clip your toenails and fingernails on the same day, and only to cut them for Shabbos and Yom Tov. Proper conduct is to clip your toenails on Thursday and finger nails on Friday. Don’t forget to wash hands after a haircut and nail clipping. (ShA1 – MB6)
- We are makpid not to clip our fingernails on Thursday – they will begin to grow back on Shabbos. (MB6)
- How should you dispose of the clipped nails? It is best to burn them. If you bury them you have done well, but do not leave them where a pregnant woman could step on them and miscarry. In a bais midrash or a men’s bathroom where women do not frequent, you are allowed to leave them on the floor. If you sweep them from the place they fall (especially out of the room) there is no worry either. (MB6)
- Rabi Yehuda Hachosid wrote in his will not to cut hair and nails on Rosh Chodesh, even when it falls on erev Shabbos – it is dangerous. (BaH2)
- L’chatchila, clip your nails out of order. Begin with the left ring finger and skip: 4, 2, 5, 3, 1 and then 2, 4, 1, 3, 5 on the left. (Rama1 – MB8)
- On Friday, just before bain hashmashos, gently ask the members of your household (where applicable) “Did you remove maasros yet? (ShA2 – MB9)
- On erev Pesach, just before bain hashmashos, gently ask the members of your household “Did you remove challah from the matzos?” (MB13)
- In general do not place excessive fear upon your family – it could result in chillul Shabbos and other transgressions. (MB10)
- Just before Shabbos, when there is enough time still for tosefes Shabbos, tell your family to cease doing melacha and light candles. If you aren’t home, send someone home to tell them. (ShA2 – MB13)
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### ** ***Section II***
##### *Candle Lighting, Kiddush, Havdalla, Meals, Daavening* *Siman 261-300* —