Can I save nails in a safe place and burn them by Biur Chometz or is it better to flush them down the toilet?

 

While burning the nails is generally preferred to flushing them, it is better to flush immediately than to burn later.

To explain: The main reason given by Rishonim of why its preferred to burn nails over burying them,  is because the burial may become uncovered over time, while the burning is assured to not become undone.

Achronim point out that flushing nails in the toilet nowadays, is more secure than the burial of the Gemora.

See also here:

Is a non-Jew allowed to throw nails out in the garbage or must they be burned?

Even if burning them is preferable over flushing, it stands to reason that (for most people) holding on to nails for many months, even in a safe place, leaves a stronger likelihood of the nails becoming exposed, than with flushing them out to the sewer immediately.

 

Sources:

ראה שו”ת דבר יהושע ב, לח, א. משנת יעקב לעבאוויטש ד, ב. בצה״ח ב, לה, ג. ויען יוסף א, לב.

ודלא כהליכות שבת – גורדון – ומה שהביא שם שי״א להיפך – ושכן נהג בעל יסוד האמונה מקאסוב – מיירי בביהכ״ס שבימיהם.

וכן מה שכתב שמדינא סגי במקום משומר – פשוט, שמ״מ אין בזה מעלת שריפה.

וראה עוד מקורות שנסמנו בפס”ת סי’ רס הערות 90-92.

 

 

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