1,255. Where to Tear

195:4 The practice is to tear on the left side for parents and on the right side for other relatives. One tears on the left for parents because he needs to expose his heart, which is on the left side. After the fact, it doesn't matter on which side he tore.

195:5 For other relatives, one may tear by hand or using a tool, whichever he prefers. For a parent, one only tears by hand. The practice is for one of the burial society (chevra kadisha) to cut a little with a knife and for the mourner to take hold of the place of the cut and to tear. We must make sure that the tear is down the length of the garment not across the breadth.