...Continued from previous week
1) One should not sleep on his stomach nor on his back; rather on his side.
In the beginning of the night he should sleep on his left side and at the end of the night on his right side. (Rambam Hilchos Dei’os Perek 4 Halacha 5)
One of the reasons given for this is that the liver is on the right side and the stomach is on the left side, and thus when one sleeps on the left side, the liver’s heat will warm the stomach and will help the digestive system. (Sefer Aleh L’Terufah quoted in Sefer HaLikutim back of the Shabsi Frankel edition of the Rambam. See also Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 71:5)
Another reason for the prohibition of sleeping on the back or on the stomach is to prevent embarrassing situations and/or nocturnal emissions while sleeping. (See Rashi to Brachos 13b Dibur Hamaschil Layit Aman. See also Pele Yoetz, “Yemin” and Shu”t Az Nidberu Vol. 6 Siman 50 regarding if these positions apply only to when going to sleep or to any time one lays down. See also Mishna Berura Siman 239:6 where he refers to sleeping on the back or stomach as an “Issur Gadol, a big sin”)
Lastly, there are kabalistic reasons for not sleeping on the back and the stomach. (See Kaf HaChaim Siman 238:11)
2) This Halacha applies equally to men and women (as even though the second reason cited does not apply to women, the first and third reason do. Though for women it isn’t considered a big sin if they do not follow this Halacha)
This Halacha also applies equally to right handed people and left handed people.
3) It is a Mitzvah to cut the nails of the hands in honor of Shabbos.
One should not cut the nails of his hands on the same day as cutting the nails of the toes. (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 72:14)
It is best not to cut nails in order, as doing so can present a danger and cause one to forget their Torah learning.
Start with the left hand as follows: ring finger, pointer, pinky, middle finger then the thumb. Then move on to the right hand and cut the nail of pointer, ring finger, thumb, middle finger and then the pinky. (See Rama Siman 261:1 and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman ibid. Some Poskim, including the Aruch HaShulchan, rule to start with the right hand but the prevalent Minhag is to begin with the left.)
There is no difference between left handed and right handed people in regard to the order of cutting nails.
4) After nails are cut they should be burned. Flushing them down the toilet is sufficient for them to be considered burnt.
The Talmud (Niddah 17a) says that a pregnant woman who steps on nails is in danger of losing her child Chas V’Shalom. The Gemara goes so far as to call one who doesn’t dispose of his/her nails properly a Rasha, an evil person.
Although the Shulchan Aruch doesn’t bring this Halacha directly, the Poskim do indeed quote the Gemara and seem to be very stringent with this Halacha L’Ma’aseh. (The Chazon Ish was extremely makpid with this as was rav Chaim Kanievsky Zatzal and many other Gedolim.)
This only applies if the nails are in the place where they were dropped, but once they were moved, they are no longer a danger. Thus if one did cut their nails, it is important to sweep the area to make sure the nails move from where they fell. (See Mogen Avraham beginning of Siman 260, Mishna Berura Siman 260:6 and Be’er Heitev 260:2)
This applies to a person’s own nails as well. This also applies to nails of Aino Yehudim (See Rivevos Ephraim Vol. 8 Siman 88:1)
Although the Talmud seems to say that it is a danger only for pregnant women, the Zohar seems to say that it is a danger for anyone to walk on nails. (See Likutei MaHariach Seder Hanhagos Erev Shabbos Dibur Hamaschil V’Ayin B’Rama)
