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When cutting nails there are some very specific instructions when cutting them. If I recall correctly, one is supposed to start with the left hand and then proceed to the right. This seems strange, as in most places we do things with the right first (e.g. put on right sleeve of shirt first, and the like).

So: Am I correct that cutting nails starts with the left hand?

And if so, why the difference?

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I have a print of the kitsur shulhan aruch that even has a drawing to explain the nail cutting sequence, I'll need to loop it up after shabat to actually answer your question but this is a place to start if you want to look into it – Avraham Oct 14 '11 at 12:23

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http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=49625&st=&pgnum=63

Per the Rama in Orach Chaim 260:1 the left hand gets cut first. Although it can be argued that it is not clear from the Rama the the left hand should be cut first, the fact that the left is mentioned first when normally Jews prioritize the right, proves that in this case the left should be cut first.

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and, if so, why the difference? – yydl Oct 16 '11 at 3:08

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