Halachos of Lefties
From Halachipedia
This is the approved revision of this page, as well as being the most recent.
Getting Dressed
- When putting a piece of clothing you should put on the right side and then the left. A lefty should do the same.[1]
- A lefty should put on his right shoe first and also tie his right shoe first.[2]
Kriya
- When tearing kriyah for seeing the area of the Bet HaMikdash a righty and lefty should both tear on their right side.[3] The same is true of tearing kriyah for a parent.[4]
Netilat Yadayim
- One who washes his hands fills the cup while holding it in his right hand and then transfers the cup into his left hand and washes his right hand.[5] A left-handed person should also follow this procedure and wash his right hand first.[6]
Birkat Hamazon
- A lefty who is doing birkat hamazon holding a cup of wine should hold it in his right hand according to Sephardim, and in his left hand according to Ashkenazim.[7]
Shema
- A lefty should cover his eyes of kriyat Shema with his right hand. See the Kriyat Shema#Covering One's Eyes section.
Lulav
- A lefty should hold the lulav in his right hand according to Sephardim, and in his left hand according to Ashkenazim.[8]
Links
Sources
- ↑ Mishna Brurah 2:4
- ↑ Mishna Brurah 2:6
- ↑ Mishna Brurah 561:13
- ↑ Taz YD 340:6
- ↑ Shulchan Aruch 4:10
- ↑ Itur Yad 5, Beer Moshe 2:3:3, Yalkut Yosef 4:5
- ↑ Although Shulchan Aruch O.C. 183:5 quotes some who say that the lefty should hold the cup in his left hand, Birkei Yosef 183:4 writes that Sephardim hold it in their right hand, following what Shulchan Aruch O.C. 651:3 codified regarding lulav. Regarding lulav Shulchan Aruch's view is clarified and by Birkat Hamazon he only quoted one opinion. However, Magen Avraham 183:9 writes that Ashkenazim hold the cup in their left hand.
- ↑ Shulchan Aruch and Rama O.C. 651:3. Rosh (Sukkah 3:25), Meiri (Shabbat 103a s.v. memah), Ravyah 2:694, Rashba (responsa 1:1120), Shibolei Haleket 365, and Maharam Rotenberg (Levuv 470) hold that the lefty holds the lulav in his left hand.