Used Clothing & Ta’avos for Clothing
Question:
I have a very expensive taste in clothing, but I have very limited income. (When I first developed my taste, I was able to afford the quality I craved.) The shoes I want to wear (and I’d wear nothing less) cost at least ten times more than what I am prepared to spend on shoes.
My solution is to shop thrift. I buy second hand clothing and shoes for a mere fraction of the original prices, and I get the experience of wearing clothing and shoes of the style and quality I love. Obviously, what I wear is very lightly worn and is not discernibly second-hand. (For example I am right now wearing a pair of shoes that are handmade in France, which retail for approximately one thousand dollars. I bought them for $3.75 at a Goodwill outlet. They are in perfect condition.)
However, I recently learned that it is halachically problematic to wear used clothing, and that it is especially problematic to wear used shoes.
Is there any solution to this? Maybe I can “renovate” used shoes so as to re-render them new and permissible to wear?
I understand the question may sound shallow and unimportant, but please understand that there are standards I have become used to when I was able to afford such clothing, and I simply cannot now shelve and ignore my developed tastes, standards and expectations.
Answer:
You may purchase used shoes or clothing.
P.S. I would be remiss if I wouldn’t point this out: As an aside, the habit of buying only expensive clothing is not completely compatible with Torah values, especially where it imposes budgetary limitations in the family. I advise you discuss with a mashpia how to curtail or deal with your expensive habits.
Chassidus explains that the tavvah for lvushei kavod is avoda zara btahara and worse than other kelipos, as it’s makif dikelipah. It affects one’s avodah and hergesh elokus. Elsewhere it’s explained how it’s mamosh not al pi sechel and affects one’s pnimiyus. See below for various references.
Source:
ראה לקוטי תורה אחרי כז, ג. שם כח, ב. מאמרי אדמו״ר האמצעי ויקרא ב ע׳ תקז ואילך. סה״מ תרנ״ה ע׳ תכ-כא. תרס״ד ע׳ קז. המשך תער״ב ח״א ע׳ רט. ח״ב ע׳ תתה. ובשעת מעשה אמר כ״ק אדמו״ר מוהרש״ב נ״ע: ער איז א שטיינערנער – זכרון לבני ישראל ע׳ מז. סה״מ תר״פ ע׳ נה. תש״ה ע׳ 92. באתי לגני תשי״ז.
להחשש ממנעלי מת –
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