Donning Shoes If Left-Handed

Q. What is the proper procedure for a lefty (who puts tefillin on his right arm) to put on his shoes?

A. The Mishnah Berurah (2:6) writes that a lefty should put on and tie his right shoe first, just as his teffilin is tied on his right arm. This was also the ruling of the Malbim in his sefer, Artzos Hachaim. However, the Mishnah Berurah cites as his source for this halacha the Tevu’os Shor as quoted by the Shaarei Teshuva. The Minchas Yitzchak (10:1) argues that the Shaarei Teshuva misquoted the Tevu’os Shor. A careful reading of the Tevu’os Shor shows that he was not referring to one who is left-handed, but rather to one who is left-footed. The Tevu’os Shor writes that one who is left-footed should put on and tie his right shoe first, because his right foot (which is weaker) is the equivalent of a left foot for a right-footed person. Poskim deduce from the Tevu’os Shor that one who is a left-handed but right-footed should follow the regular halacha and tie his left shoe first. Still, the Minchas Yitzchak concludes that since this is a matter of disagreement between the Malbim and the Tevu’os Shor, a lefty who is right-footed may follow either practice, so long as he is consistent.

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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.