Do my nails have to be very short for mikveh pre-wedding?

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October 30, 2008

Question

I am a kalla and will be going to the mikva for the first time in just a few weeks.

My question is that I do not wish to cut my nails extremely short because I want to have them manicured for the big day (and I definitely don't want to get false nails!) I have a kalla teacher and I have been learning the halachot – I know that there is an opinion saying that it's ok to leave nails a bit longer as long as you clean them extremely well.

With that in mind, I want to make sure that I don't run into any problems with the Mikva lady and that she won't insist that I cut them.

Do you have any suggestions for me?

Answer

Mazal tov on your upcoming wedding!

Nails do not have to be cut extremely short; it is sufficient to cut them short enough that if you turn your palms up, you do not see them extending above the fingers. However, some kallot do wish to keep their nails a bit longer to have them manicured for the wedding. On a one time basis, you would be permitted to keep your nails slightly longer. You must take care to clean them extremely well. You should explain to the mikveh lady that you received a heter to keep your nails slightly longer for the wedding.

B'Hatzlacha!