עברית
Halachot and Customs
Is it Permissible to Wear a Slightly Torn Garment?
Question
Hello and blessings,
Is it permissible to wear a garment that is slightly torn, for example, a shirt with a small rip or hole on the side that is not visible, or a slightly torn shoe that is still comfortable and does not bother me in daily use?
Thank you and have a pleasant day.
Answer
Greetings, If the tear is not noticeable, there is no concern. However, if the tear is visible, one must be careful because it constitutes a desecration of Hashem. As written in Shu"t Yechaveh Da'at, Part 6, Section 49, citing Tiferet Yisrael on the Mishnayot (Avodah Zarah 2:2, letter 12), one must be careful not to appear negligent in their clothing and appearance before others. Especially in our times, when the honor of the Torah has diminished greatly because of our many sins, it is certainly incumbent upon us to maintain the honor of the Torah and not to degrade it, Heaven forbid, by appearing careless, lest we become despised in the eyes of others by doing so. See there for further details. Indeed, that ruling was originally regarding a Torah scholar, but nowadays these matters apply to all those who observe Torah and mitzvot. Blessings, Hillel Meirs
