Is it permissible to wear gold jewelry on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?

Greetings,

1. On Rosh Hashanah, it is permissible to wear gold jewelry without limitation.

2. On Yom Kippur, one should not wear white clothing that is adorned with gold, because white clothing symbolizes atonement (as written in the book of Isaiah 1:18, "If your sins are like scarlet, they will be white like snow"), and therefore, they should not be adorned with gold as it reminds us of the sin of the Golden Calf.

However, gold jewelry that is not part of clothing and does not carry a connotation of atonement, such as necklaces, bracelets, rings, gold watches, and similar items, does not raise concerns of reminding us of the sin of the Golden Calf.

Nevertheless, due to "fear of the law," neither men nor women should wear jewelry that they are accustomed to wearing on weekdays, and not the jewelry that is special for Shabbat and holidays (see Mishnah Berurah, siman 562, s.k. 16, and what is mentioned in the book Piskei Teshuvot there, section 5).

Wishing you a good and blessed year,

Hallel Meirs