Is it permissible for one to cut his or her nails while observing Abelut (mourning) for a family member, Heaven forbid?
The Shulhan Aruch rules (based on the ruling of the Rif and the Rambam) that just as a mourner during the first month after the family member’s death may not take a haircut or shave, it is similarly forbidden to cut one’s nails during this thirty-day period. This applies to both fingernails and toenails, and to removing the nails with one’s hand and with a nail clipper.
There are, however, two exceptions to this rule. Rav Shemuel Pinhasi (contemporary), in his work on the laws of Abelut (chapter 17, p. 253; listen to audio recording for precise citation), writes in the name of Hacham Ovadia Yosef that if the thirtieth day of mourning falls on Shabbat, then the mourner is permitted to cut his or her nails on Friday, in honor of Shabbat. He adds that this applies even to one who is mourning the passing of a parent.
A second exception is a woman who must immerse in a Mikveh during the thirty-day period of Abelut. A woman is required to cut her nails before immersing, and thus in a case of a woman who immerses during Abelut, she should, preferably, have her nails cut by a gentile woman. If no gentile woman is available to cut her nails for her, or if she would be uncomfortable with such an arrangement, then she may have her nails cut by a Jewish woman. If this, too, would make her uncomfortable, then she may cut her nails herself. The Sages did not apply their enactment in situations where nail-cutting is required for the sake of a Misva, and therefore if necessary, a woman may cut her nails in preparation for immersion during Abelut. This is the ruling of the Hida (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1807), in his work Haim Sha’al (1:2). Rav Pinhasi cites this ruling in his work (p. 254; listen to audio recording for precise citation), adding that it is indeed common custom for women observing Abelut to cut their own nails in preparation for immersion.
Summary: It is forbidden to cut one’s fingernails or toenails during the thirty-day period of mourning after a family member’s death. However, if the thirtieth day falls on Shabbat, the mourner may cut his or her nails on Friday. Furthermore, a woman observing Abelut who must immerse in a Mikveh should preferably have her nails cut by somebody else, but if this would make her uncomfortable, she may cut her own nails.
