Q&A: Afraid and Doesn't Know What He Is Afraid Of
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Afraid and Doesn't Know What He Is Afraid Of
Question
Hello, honored Rabbi.
It is written in the Shulchan Arukh (Orach Chayim 4:19): "One who lets blood from the shoulders and does not wash his hands is afraid for seven days. One who gets a haircut and does not wash his hands is afraid for three days. One who cuts his nails and does not wash his hands is afraid for one day, and does not know what he is afraid of."
What is this fear?
Answer
I don't know. Apparently, in the past they thought this was dangerous, or that there were various harmful forces.
Everything the Sages wrote is absolutely true; that doesn't obligate the thing to happen immediately after the act.