Community Magazine August 2006

 ”  34 Community Magazine 1. Putting On Two Garments Together • One must be careful not to put on two articles of clothing at the same time. For example, one should not put on a shirt which has a vest on it simultane- ously. • Similarly, one may not put on two head coverings at the same time. If one wishes to wear a hat over his kippa, for example, he should first put on the kippa and then the hat, rather than putting the kippa in the hat and then putting them on his head together. (Kaf Hahayim, Orah Hayim 2, 6 in the name of the Arizal) The Kabbalistic reason for this prohi- bition is described in: Ben Ish Hai Yr 1, Hakdama to Bereshit. 2. Order Of Dressing And Bathing • When dressing one must give honor to his right limbs over his left. For instance when putting on a shirt or jacket one should first put his arm in his right sleeve followed by the left. One should reverse the process (left first) when undressing. • Our rabbis teach us that the reason for this is that the right represents the attribute of kindness whereas the left represents judgment. Showing honor to the right side, causes Hashem to over- power His attribute of judgment with His attribute of kindness. For this reason, one must always give precedence to the right over the left in other matters as well, i.e. Netilat yadayim, bathing etc. • One should also get dressed from top to bottom to give honor to his upper limbs, since these limbs represent the higher spheres in the upper worlds. • The same would apply to shower- ing, one should first wash his head, then his face and neck, followed by his right arm, then left arm, torso, etc...(Kaf Hahayim, Orah Hayim 2, 8 & 9) • Someone who is left handed should consult with his rabbi how to conduct himself in regard to the aformentioned halachot since there is a difference in opinion on this matter. 3. Putting On Shoes • Although we mentioned above that one should always give precedence to the right, in regards to tying precedence is given to the left since we tie our tefi- lin on our left arm. Therefore our rabbis teach us that the proper way to put on shoes is as follows: first put on the right shoe, then the left; then tie the left shoe and then the right. This way the right was given precedence when the show was worn and left was given precedence when it was tied. • For shoes that do not need to be tied, such as slip-ons, the right shoe should be put on first. Similarly, one should reverse the process when remov- ing the shoes. (Shulchan Aruch, Orah Hayim 2, 4) • One should be careful not to wear shoes on the wrong foot as this causes hatred and one may lose his livelihood bar minan. (Kaf Hahayim, Orah Hayim 2, 10) • As in dressing, a lefty should con- sult his rabbi on this issue. 4. Wearing Clothes Inside Out • One should not wear any article of clothing inside out. This applies even to a garment worn underneath such as an undershirt. (Kaf Hahayim, Orah Hayim 2, 4) If one did put on a garment inside out, some Poskim hold that only if he is a talmid hacham, must he undress and reverse the garment. However the Kaf Hahayim cites the Hida as well as other opinions which hold that any per- son must reverse the garment so that it is worn properly. (Kaf Hahayim, Orah Hayim 2, 5) 5. Cutting Nails • It is a misvah to cut one’s nail son Ereb Shabbat. (Shulchan Aruch, Or Hahayim 260, 1) However, if one’s nails are growing above his flesh, he should not wait until Ereb Shabbat, rather he should cut them immediately. The rea- son for this is that when ones nails grow above the flesh it gives power to the side of tumah (impurity). (Arizal, Shaar Hakavanot) • Rabbi Yehuda Hachasid writes that one should not cut his nails on Rosh Hodesh even if it falls out on Ereb Shabbat. (Sabaat ry”h, 48). However, the Kaf Hahayim (ibid, 12) writes that if one’s nails grow above the skin, he Most Overlooked Jewish Laws Dressing and Grooming