Q. May a nail-biter or a skin-picker swallow the nails or the little pieces of skin he bites off, due to the prohibition of eating human flesh or disgusting things?
Is it permitted to do so in a day of fasting?
A. On question 2039 in regard to transgressing the prohibition of bal teshaktzu for one that can eat food that the majority of people consider repugnant, but to him it is not, we wrote; P'ri Chodosh (Y.D. 84: 3) based on the Mishna (Chulin 77a) maintains that a food item that most people find repugnant and repulsive but this particular individual does not, he does not have to follow the usual majority rule, and he is permitted to eat that food. Therefore, Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that as far as nails and fingernails cuticles is concerned, if one is not disgusted when swallowing them, there is no bal teshaktzu prohibition.
There are different opinions in respect to the prohibition of eating human flesh. 1) Rambam (H. Maacholos Asuros 2: 3) maintains that since the Torah enumerated the kosher animals and told us that these are permissible, the ones not included are prohibited only by the dint of a positive commandment, namely "these are the ones you shall eat." 2) The Reoh (Shita Mekubetzes, Kessubos asserts that one transgresses a negative commandment.3) Ra'abad (ibid. 3: 4) and Ramban opine that there is no prohibition on human flesh, besides b'al teshaktzu. 4) Rashbo (Tesh. 1: 364) holds that it is Rabbinically prohibited.
Therefore, Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that one should not eat the skin cuticles.
As far as nails is concerned, the Rov maintains that since they are not fit for consumption, one may swallow them if he does not find that disgusting.
The Rov advises that cuticles are prohibited to swallow in a day of fasting.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
