Faith
Should One Change Into Shabbat Clothes on Shabbat During the Shiva?
Question
Should the shoes also be discarded after the shiva?
On Shabbat during the shiva, should one change into Shabbat clothes or into clean regular clothes?
Thank you
Answer
Peace and blessings,
1. One should avoid wearing shoes that were on the deceased at the time of death (Responsa Yabia Omer, volume 3, Yoreh Deah, siman 5), but all other shoes may be used.
2. There is no mourning on Shabbat except for matters done in private, such as marital relations and washing with hot water, but public observances are not practiced. Therefore, the mourner must change from weekday clothes into Shabbat clothes, even on Shabbat during the shiva (Chazon Ovadia, Mourning, volume 3, page 80. See there in the note regarding the Ashkenazi custom. However, in Sefer Nishmat Yisrael, volume 1, page 442, it is written that the custom today is for mourners to wear Shabbat clothes as usual on the other Shabbatot of the year).
Good news,
Hillel Meirs
