Touching Shoes of Different Materials

Q. Is there a difference between touching leather and non-leather shoes?

A. The Kaf Hachaim (554:73) quotes the ruling of the Ben Ish Chai that one must wash their hands even when touching shoes made from fabric or other manmade materials. However, Sefer Orchos Rabbeinu (Vol. 3, p. 186) writes that the Chazon Ish did not wash his hands after touching non-leather slippers. Apparently, the Chazon Ish felt that Chazal only mandated washing hands when touching shoes, and halachically, non-leather foot apparel is not considered a shoe (just as one can wear non-leather shoes on Yom Kippur). However, non-leather footwear that is worn outdoors (such as a sneaker) can be assumed to be not clean, and the person’s hands will be soiled after removing the shoe. If one’s hands are dirty, they must be washed even when not touching a shoe.

______________________________________________________

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.