Halachot and Customs
Is there an order for putting on shoes?
Question
Is there a halacha to put on shoes starting with the right and then the left, and when taking them off, to remove the left first and then the right? I have heard there is such a thing.
Thank you
Answer
Greetings,
One should put on the right shoe first without tying it, then put on the left shoe and tie it, and afterwards tie the right shoe. The reason for tying the left shoe first is that regarding tying, the Torah gives importance to the left, as we tie the tefillin on the left arm (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 2:4, and Mishnah Berurah 6).
For shoes that do not have ties, one should put on the right shoe first and then the left (Rema there).
When removing shoes, one should take off the left shoe first and then the right (Shulchan Aruch there 5). It is also appropriate to untie the laces of the left shoe first, and then the right (see Yalkut Yosef 6, and Piskei Teshuvos 7).
Regards,
Hillel Meirs
עברית
