Hayom Yom 22 Elul - Do not to sting your fellow cut your nails

תּוֹרַת הַחֲסִידוּת דּוֹרֶשֶׁת The teachings of Chassidus demand כִּי תְחִלָּה לְהוֹכָחָה צְרִיכִים לְהָסִיר אֶת הַצִּפָּרְנַיִם that before rebuking one’s fellowman, one should “cut one’s nails,” נִיט שְׁטעֶכעֶן זִיךְ so that people will not scratch each other — כִּי בְּטוּפְרְהָא אֲחִידָן for [the forces of kelipah] cling to the nails. יעֶדעֶר שְׁטאָך אִיז קְלִיפָּה וְסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא Every prick [unleashes] kelipah and sitra achra. וְאַחַר נְטִילַת הַצִּפָּרְנַיִם צָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת נְטִילַת יָדַיִם Then, after cutting the nails, one must perform a ritual washing of the hands. כִּמְבוֹאָר עִנְיָנָהּ בְּדִבְרֵי אֱלֹקִים חַיִּים, הַמְשָׁכַת הַמּוֹחִין לְמִדּוֹת In [the metaphorical language of] Chassidus, this signifies the drawing down of intellectual influence into the emotions. Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English