Mendel Breitstein holds a B.A. in English literature from the University of Maryland, an M.A in medieval Jewish history from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, and teaching certificates from the Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik Institute (Jewish studies) and the David Yellin College of Education of Jerusalem (English). He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Jewish thought at the BRGS, focusing on contemporary Jewish mysticism. In addition to teaching high school, he has also taught English grammar and literature in Israeli colleges and Hebrew grammar and language in both Israeli and American institutions.

How should one dispose of their finger nails after clipping them? This has been a topic of concern in many different times and places. In this lecture, we will look at some of the different approaches found throughout the world, and suggest how we might classify these practices. We will also take a closer look at a number of Jewish sources that discuss what ought to be done with nail clippings, and consider a number of possible explanations for what lies behind the Talmudic concern.