May I pluck a hair that is bothering me, from my head on Shabbos?

            Cutting hair on Shabbos falls under the umbrella of the melacha of âåææ – shearing. The Shulchan Aruch [1] teaches us that it is prohibited to cut or pluck hair, whether one uses an instrument, such as scissors, or one’s fingers.

There is a difference though as to the severity of the action: one is only chayav (biblically prohibited) when cutting hair with an instrument and rabbinically prohibited when pulling out hair with one’s fingers, in view of the fact that it is not the normal manner for removing hair. [2]

Another crucial issue is the number of hairs that need to be cut. For one to violate an issur d’oraisso (biblical prohibition) and be liable for the biblical punishment, one would need to cut at least two [3] hairs. Although cutting a single hair is also an issur d’oraisso [4] one is not subject to the punishment prescribed by the Torah.

Consequently, pulling out even a single hair is an issur d’rabanan (pulled out as opposed to cut) and it may not be done on Shabbos.

Is the cutting of two hairs always a melacha d’oraisso?

            We find a machlokes between the Tosefos and the Rivash in this matter. [5] We must not forget that the source of this melacha is shearing sheep, and hence Tosefos says that in the Mishkan the sheep were sheared for their wool. Therefore, cutting hair for a purpose other than for the purpose of acquiring the hair itself, renders the cutting a melacha she’eina tsricha l’gufa – meaning that it is done for a motive other than that of the Mishkan. According to the halacha it would then only be an issur d’rabanan.

The Rivash, on the other hand, learns that this melacha was also practiced in the Mishkan for the purpose of cleaning the skins of hair. The hair was not used or wanted and nevertheless it is a melacha. Consequently, cutting hair for appearance sake will be a regular melacha d’oraisso.

            Does it make a difference whether it is a white hair from black and that I am a male?

            It does indeed make a difference. If we said that the basis of the melacha is two hairs, when removing a single white hair from amongst black or vice versa, one accomplishes a complete goal and is chayav on account of that single hair. [6] The Bi’ur Halacha says that some are of the opinion that one is chayav for pulling out such a hair, as it is normal to do so.

Being male compounds the problem because it is prohibited for a male to pluck a black hair from white or vice versa during the week as well, since it is an act of beautification, typical of women. This is the implementation of the issur of ìà éìáù âáø ùîìú àùä, which includes beautifying oneself as women do. [7] There are extenuating circumstances where this is permitted, and one must ask one’s rav when this is.

            What about picking at fingernails on Shabbos?

            Cutting a fingernail is also part of âåææ. Cutting fingernails with an instrument is an issur d’oraisso [8] and picking them is an issur d’rabanan. A person who habitually picks or bites fingernails during the week is in danger of violating the Shabbos, because he will most likely continue with his (bad) habit on Shabbos as well.

            Is there a problem to remove ‘feather remnants’ from a chicken in my plate?

            Removing feathers from a dead chicken is an issur d’oraisso. [9] Yet we find a machlokes haposkim as to whether it applies to a cooked chicken as well.

The Sh’miras Shabbos Kehilchasa [10] cites poskim who hold that it is ossur, but also cites lenient opinions. Rav Moshe Feinstein [11] is of the opinion that it is totally permitted.

            May one clean dirty fingernails on Shabbos?

            Dirt often appears under fingernails, leaving an ugly appearance. Obviously there is no prohibition against cleaning such dirt on Shabbos; one should be careful not to scrape away part of the inside of the fingernail, which would be a problem of âåææ. [12]

As we know, one’s hands and fingernails must be clean when washing for bread and when necessary one could use a wooden toothpick that will scrape away the dirt but will not scrape the nail.

            A fingernail has partially separated from the nail, may it be removed?

            We have learnt that removing a fingernail involves the melacha of âåææ – shearing. [13] The halacha regarding a semidetached fingernail varies.

If a minor part of the fingernail is detached, it is the same as a fully attached fingernail and may not be removed. If a major part of the fingernail has detached, mid’oraisso it is viewed as if it has totally detached, but mid’rabanan it may only be removed – by hand or teeth – if causing distress. The leniency is due to the fact that Chazal did not institute this g’zeira (decree) in occurrences of distress. [14]

May a woman remove nail varnish on Shabbos?

            Removing nail varnish is not similar to removing dirt from one’s skin etc. The problem in this case is that removing nail varnish paves the way for a fresh painting which is a problem of “erasing in order to repaint”, which can be an issur d’oraisso. Normally a woman only removes varnish that has started to peel or is damaged. Doing so on Shabbos is not seen as mekalkel (destroying or spoiling) which is only a d’rabanan, [15] because in this case the nails are being cleaned in order to be repainted.

            How is a woman supposed to wash her hands for bread on Shabbos when the nail varnish is peeling?

            This is a major problem because it is a state which is known as being makpidah, which means being particular. Anything that a person does not want on one’s hands constitutes a çöéöä – a barrier between the person’s hands and the water and in this case it invalidates the ðèéìú éãééí. [16]

It is similar to any case of dirt on one’s hands that must be removed before washing for bread. Although one may remove ‘normal’ dirt from one’s hands on Shabbos in order to do ðèéìú éãééí, removing varnish is far more problematic, as explained. One should therefore make sure that the fingernails are either well varnished or clean before Shabbos.