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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION
Siman ר״ס · 2 Seifim (SA) + 5 Seifim (SHHaRav)
Personal preparations for entering Shabbat — washing, nails, 3 questions
סימן ר״ס
כמה דיני הכנסת שבת
🌱 Introductory Level · מתחילים
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The first siman on personal preparations for entering Shabbat — the positive dimension. Mitzvah to wash the body in hot water, to wash the hair, to cut the nails according to a traditional order. Close to twilight, the head of the household asks his family in a gentle voice the 3 questions (maaser, eruv, challah) and gives the order to light the candles.
Topic: Personal preparations before Shabbat
Source: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim siman ר״ס · 2 seifim · Shabbat 25b – 34a.
Compilation: Rav Yossef Haim Samama
DAAT · daattorah.com
📑 Study Plan
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch — the 2 seifim
2. General context — the positive dimension of Shabbat
3. Key concept 1 — Mitzvah of רחיצה (washing)
4. Key concept 2 — The order of the nails (mnemonic בדהג״א)
5. Key concept 3 — The 3 questions at twilight
6. Detail of the 2 seifim
7. The Rema's position — entire body, hair, nail order
8. Modern practical cases — mikvah, shower, nails
9. Practical synthesis
10. Comprehension questions
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch
Seif Alef — Washing, hair, and nails
דיני הכנסת שבת. ובו ב סעיפים:
מצוה לרחוץ: הגה כל גופו ואם א"א לו ירחץ (טור) פניו ידיו ורגליו בחמין בע"ש ומצוה לחוף הראש ולגלח הצפרנים בע"ש: הגה ואם היו שערות ראשו גדולות מצוה לגלחן (א"ז פ' אלו מגלחין) וכשנוטל צפרניו לא יטול אותן כסדרן ויתחיל בשמאל בקמיצה ובימין באצבע וסי' לזה דבהג"א בשמאל ובדאג"ה בימין (אבודרהם בספר המוסר):
The laws of ushering in Shabbos — 2 se'ifim. Mitzvah to wash (Rema's gloss: the entire body; if not possible — at least:) face, hands, and feet in hot water on erev Shabbat. Mitzvah to wash the hair (לחוף הראש) and to cut the nails (לגלח הצפרנים) on erev Shabbat.
Rema gloss (continued):
Rema gloss (continued):
- If the hair is long — mitzvah to cut it
- When cutting the nails — do not follow the natural order (= do not go finger by finger in anatomical sequence)
- Begin with the ring finger (קמיצה) of the left hand, then the index (אצבע) of the right hand
- Mnemonic: דבהג״א for the left hand, בדאג״ה for the right hand
Seif Alef sets out 4 positive mitzvot:
- רחיצה (washing) — face, hands, feet in hot water (Mechaber); the entire body (Rema)
- חפיפה (washing the hair)
- גילוח צפרניים (cutting the nails) — according to the traditional non-sequential order
- גילוח שערות (cutting long hair if necessary — Rema)
What this seif says:
- Washing is a mitzvah — מצוה לרחוץ, and the Rama gives its measure — כל גופו ואם א״א לו ירחץ … פניו ידיו ורגליו בחמין בע״ש.
- And two more join it — ומצוה לחוף הראש ולגלח הצפרנים בע״ש.
- Rama: the nails are not cut in order — וכשנוטל צפרניו לא יטול אותן כסדרן.
Seif Beit — The 3 questions and the order to light
כשיהיה סמוך לחשיכה ישאל לאנשי ביתו בלשון רכה עשרתם ערבתם הפרשתם חלה ויאמר להם הדליקו את הנר: ובמקום שאין מעשרין א"צ לומר עשרתם (טור):
Near twilight, the head of the household asks the members of the house in a gentle voice (לשון רכה):
Rema gloss / Tur: in places where maaser is not taken (= outside Eretz Yisrael), there is no need to ask. And in a place where tithes are not separated — there is no need to ask "have you tithed" [Tur].
- "Have you taken maaser?" (עִשַּׂרְתֶּם) — for fruits and vegetables in Eretz Yisrael
- "Have you made the eruv?" (עֵרַבְתֶּם) — eruv chatzeirot (shared courtyards) or eruv tavshilin (Yom Tov + Shabbat)
- "Have you separated challah?" (הִפְרַשְׁתֶּם חַלָּה) — for dough/bread prepared at home
Rema gloss / Tur: in places where maaser is not taken (= outside Eretz Yisrael), there is no need to ask. And in a place where tithes are not separated — there is no need to ask "have you tithed" [Tur].
Seif Beit codifies 4 structured verbal acts:
- Gentle voice (לשון רכה) — mode of communication so it will be accepted
- 3 questions in a precise order
- 1 final command (lighting)
- Local adaptation (according to region)
What this seif says:
- Three questions, and the tone is prescribed with them — כשיהיה סמוך לחשיכה ישאל לאנשי ביתו בלשון רכה עשרתם ערבתם הפרשתם חלה.
- Then the instruction — ויאמר להם הדליקו את הנר.
- And where no tithing is done, the first falls away — ובמקום שאין מעשרין א״צ לומר עשרתם.
2. General context
What is this siman about?
Siman ר״ס opens the "positive" section of Hilchot Shabbat. Until now (sim. 252-259), the prohibitions and their technical frameworks were codified. Now we enter the positive mitzvah: how to honor Shabbat through personal preparations.
| Aspect | Practice | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Washing, cutting hair and nails | Shabbat 25b · "כך הוא מנהגו של ר' יהודה ב״ר אילעאי" |
| Family / home | 3 questions at twilight | Shabbat 34a · "שלושה דברים צריך אדם לומר" |
| Candles | Explicit order to light | Ibid. 34a |
The founding talmudic sugya — Shabbat 25b: "כך היה מנהגו של ר' יהודה ב״ר אילעאי" — the custom of R' Yehuda son of R' Ilai: to wash his face, hands, and feet in hot water on Friday, and to receive Shabbat. Shabbat 34a: "שלושה דברים צריך אדם לומר בתוך ביתו ערב שבת עם חשיכה" — three things one must say at home near twilight.
Connection with neighboring simanim
| Siman | Topic | Link |
|---|---|---|
| רנ״ו | 6 tekiot (community announcement) | Public temporal framework |
| רנ״ט | Hatmana and moving | Material preparations |
| ר״ס | Personal preparations | — |
| רס״א | תוספת שבת | Personal temporal framework |
| רס״ב | Preparations: table, clothing | Direct continuation |
| רס״ג | הדלקת נר | Mitzvah of candles (continuation of Seif Beit) |
3. Key concept 1 — Mitzvah of רחיצה
רְחִיצָה = "washing". The siman codifies a positive mitzvah to wash on erev Shabbat. Hierarchy:
Hot water is essential — this is the chiddush of the seif. Not just washing, but in hot water (בחמין). Symbolically: the warmth represents dignity, the personal attention given to honor Shabbat.
4. Key concept 2 — The order of the nails
The Rema codifies a traditional non-sequential order for cutting nails: "לא יטול אותן כסדרן" (do not take them in order). Mnemonic: דבהג״א for the left hand, בדאג״ה for the right hand.
| Position | Left hand: דבהג״א | Right hand: בדאג״ה |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | ד = ring finger (קמיצה) | ב = index (אצבע) |
| 2nd | ב = index (אצבע) | ד = ring finger (קמיצה) |
| 3rd | ה = pinky (זרת) | א = thumb (גודל) |
| 4th | ג = middle (אמה) | ג = middle (אמה) |
| 5th | א = thumb (גודל) | ה = pinky (זרת) |
Why this order? The commentators (Magen Avraham, Mishnah Berurah) explain: there is a kabbalistic belief that cutting nails in sequential order brings misfortune (סכנה). So we alternate. The prescribed order avoids both a purely sequential order and total disorder.
5. Key concept 3 — The 3 questions at twilight
Near twilight, the head of the household recalls 3 critical mitzvot that can still be done before Shabbat (and not after). All connected to food (maaser, eruv, challah):
| Question | Meaning | Concerns |
|---|---|---|
| עִשַּׂרְתֶּם? | Have you taken maaser? | Fruits / vegetables (Eretz Yisrael only) |
| עֵרַבְתֶּם? | Have you made the eruv? | Eruv chatzeirot (shared courtyards) or Yom Tov |
| הִפְרַשְׁתֶּם חַלָּה? | Have you separated challah? | Dough / bread prepared at home |
The art of "לשון רכה" (gentle voice): this is not a strict command, it is a question. The Mechaber emphasizes this mode because:
- The non-authoritarian aspect favors listening
- Questions invite awareness rather than obedience
- "לשון רכה" is consistent with shalom bayit (peace in the home)
6. Detail of the 2 seifim
Seif Alef — 4 personal mitzvot
Recap:
- Washing — face / hands / feet in hot water (Mechaber). Entire body (Rema, ideal). If impossible — do what one can.
- Hair — wash and cut if long (Rema).
- Nails — cut according to alternating order (mnemonic דבהג״א / בדאג״ה).
Seif Beit — Family communication + command
| Step | Action | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Approach twilight | Temporal awareness |
| 2 | Ask family in gentle voice | לשון רכה |
| 3 | Question 1: עשרתם? | Diaspora: skip |
| 4 | Question 2: ערבתם? | Universal |
| 5 | Question 3: הפרשתם חלה? | Universal |
| 6 | Command: הדליקו את הנר | Universal |
7. The Rema's position
| Subject | Mechaber | Rema |
|---|---|---|
| Washing | Face, hands, feet in hot water | Ideal: entire body; if not possible, like Mechaber |
| Long hair | Not explicit | Mitzvah to cut if long |
| Order of nails | Not explicit | Mnemonic דבהג״א / בדאג״ה (Avudraham) |
| Diaspora and maaser | — | No need to ask עשרתם (Tur) |
The Rema's major chiddush: integration of the Avudraham and the Sefer haMussar on the kabbalistic order of nails. This is one of the rare passages of the Shulchan Aruch where a kabbalistic practice is halachically codified.
8. Modern practical cases
Case 1 — Mikvah before Shabbat
Case: going to the men's mikvah Friday afternoon.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- Chabad and chassidic practice: strong minhag (= "מקווה דערב שבת")
- Fulfills the Rema's ideal: "כל גופו" in hot water
- Symbolic: passing from the mundane to the sacred through water (similar to a niddah → sanctification)
- If no mikvah is accessible — hot bath or hot shower covering the entire body
Case 2 — Shower / bath at minimum
Case: no mikvah but a hot shower is available.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- Cover the entire body (Rema) — prolonged hot shower
- At minimum (Mechaber): face, hands, and feet in hot water
- Hot water essential — not a simple rinse
Case 3 — Cutting nails according to the order
Case: cutting nails Friday afternoon.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- Left hand mnemonic: D-B-H-G-A (ring → index → pinky → middle → thumb)
- Right hand mnemonic: B-D-A-G-H (index → ring → thumb → middle → pinky)
- Do not cut them on Shabbat itself (forbidden מדאורייתא)
- Preferably erev Shabbat / Friday afternoon
Case 4 — Doing challah / the 3 questions
Case: before Shabbat, the head of household reminds his family.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- Challah: if bread was made at home this week — verify it was done. If not, still possible before Shabbat.
- Eruv: if sharing a courtyard with non-Jews or doing Yom Tov-Shabbat (eruv tavshilin) — verify.
- Maaser: for fruits/vegetables from Eretz Yisrael only.
- Gentle voice — the tone matters as much as the content
Case 5 — Shabbat clothing
Case: changing clothes before Shabbat.
Conduct:
Conduct:
- Although explicitly codified at sim. רס״ב, the idea is implicit here (personal preparations)
- Clothes distinct from weekday wear — honor of Shabbat (כבוד שבת)
- Chabad tradition: "kapota" / "bekishe" (long white/black coat) according to custom
9. Practical synthesis of the Siman
The 5 teachings of Siman ר״ס:
- Mitzvah of רחיצה in hot water — entire body ideal, otherwise face/hands/feet
- Hair and nails cut on erev Shabbat — not on Shabbat itself
- Kabbalistic order for the nails: left hand דבהג״א, right hand בדאג״ה
- 3 questions at twilight (maaser, eruv, challah) in a gentle voice
- Command to light the candles — the final ritual transition
Practical decision table
| Situation | Conduct |
|---|---|
| Going to the mikvah before Shabbat | Recommended practice (Rema's ideal) |
| No mikvah — hot shower | Entire body (Rema) or minimum face/hands/feet (Mechaber) |
| Cutting nails Friday | According to mnemonic דבהג״א / בדאג״ה |
| Cutting nails on Shabbat | Forbidden (מדאורייתא) |
| 3 questions at home | Gentle voice; adapt according to region (maaser only Eretz Yisrael) |
| Asking women / household members | With respectful and kind tone |
| Lighting the candles | Wife's command, but idea comes from the husband |
| Shabbat clothing | Distinct from weekday wear (sim. רס״ב details) |
The 5 practical commands of Siman ר״ס
- Wash in hot water before Shabbat — entire body (ideal: mikvah) or minimum face/hands/feet
- Cut hair and nails on erev Shabbat — not on Shabbat (Toraitic prohibition)
- Follow the traditional order of nails: דבהג״א for the left, בדאג״ה for the right
- Remind family of the 3 questions in a gentle voice — maaser, eruv, challah
- Command the lighting of the candles — moment of ritual transition
10. Comprehension questions
Check your understanding:
- What is the Mechaber's minimum for washing? And the Rema's ideal?
- Why insist on hot water (בחמין)?
- What does the mnemonic דבהג״א mean for the nails of the left hand?
- Why not cut the nails in the natural order?
- What are the 3 questions of twilight?
- Why in a "gentle voice" (לשון רכה)?
- Why can the maaser question be omitted in the diaspora?
- What is the difference between a question and a command in Seif Beit?
- What is the recommended Chabad practice for washing?
- How does siman 260 connect with siman 263 (candles) and siman 262 (home preparations)?
To deepen this siman:
- 📚 Level 2 — Lamdan: sugya Shabbat 25b + 34a, source of washing in the Temple, kabbalah of nails, חקירה on לשון רכה
- ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis: axiom, mnemonic, decision tree
- 📜 Level 4 — Daat HaRav: the shitah of the Alter Rebbe on the 5 seifim and 2 entries of Kuntres Acharon
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DAAT · רב יוסף חיים סממה
Talmid chacham · giving shiurim in halacha and chassidus
סימן ר״ס · Level 1 — Introduction
♥ Support DAAT