Lefties Tying Shoes

QUESTION: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 2:4) states that a person should don his right shoe first and then the left one. The Mishnah Berurah explains that is because the right always has greater prominence and importance. However, with respect to tying one’s laces, the order is reversed, and the left shoe is tied first. The Mishnah Berurah writes that since tefillin is tied on the left hand, we see that the left arm is given prominence with respect to tying. What is the proper procedure for a lefty (who puts tefillin on his right arm)? Should he tie his right shoe first? 

ANSWER: The Mishnah Berurah (2:6) writes that a left-handed person should put on his right shoe first, and tie his right shoe first, just as his tefillin is tied on his right arm. This was also the ruling of the Malbim (1809-1879) in his sefer, Artzos Hachaim. The Mishnah Berurah (Shaarei Tzion 13) cites as his source for this halacha the Tevu’os Shor (authored by Rabbi Alexander Sender Schor 1660-1737), as quoted by the Shaarei Teshuva. The Minchas Yitzchak (10:1) argues that the Shaarei Teshuva misquoted the Tevu’os Shor, and the Tevu’os Shor actually holds that a left-handed person ties the left shoe first. However, a left footed person would tie the right shoe first. In any event, 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. 

____________________________________________________

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.