30 May LEFTIES

10 % of the people
in the world
are left-handed.
Consequently, the
amount of yiddin
who are left handed
is very little. However,
many halachos come
up on a daily basis
regarding the correct
hand to use when
performing one’s daily activities.
The Torah gives preference to the right
hand over the left hand. One of the reasons
is because it is usually the stronger of the
two hands, and one will be able to perform
mitzvahs more accurately and efficiently.
Additionally, doing mitzvahs with the
right hand shows respect for the mitzvah.
This is applicable to a left-handed person
as well since his right hand is every one
else’s left hand.
Horav Chaim Kanievesky shlita wrote a
kuntres which deals with all the questions
that can arise concerning a left handed
person. We will only discuss those which
are very common.
The following halachos are discussed in
the order that they appear in Shulchan
Aruch.
Shoes
The Gemorah writes one who is putting
on shoes should first put on the right shoe
without tying the lace, then put on the left
shoe and tie it, and finally tie the right
one. The Mishnah Berurah explains that
the Torah is teaching us to recognize the
importance of our right side in all matters,
with the exception of tying. When tying,
we honor the left side because tefillin is
worn on the left arm. One who picked

up the left shoe first should not put it on,
and should still put on the right shoe first.
There is a discussion in the poskim as to the
correct manner that a left-handed person
should put on his shoes. Some poskim say
that a lefty can follow the manner that a
right handed person puts on his shoes.
The Correct Order of Washing the Body
One should wash his body in the following
order: head, face, heart, right hand, left
hand, right foot, left foot, followed by the
rest of the body. Some are not concerned
with this inyun and wash their bodies
in any order. The poskim stress that
even if one is washing with soap, the
aforementioned order should be followed.
Furthermore even if one is being washed
by someone else the aforementioned order
should be followed. Lefties should do like
a right handed person in this regard.
Personal Hygiene
The Gemorah in Berochos says when
cleaning oneself after using the bathroom
[for “gedolim”] one should not use his
right hand because that is the hand used
when putting on tefillin, and one should
not use the middle finder of his left hand
because the tefillin are wrapped on that
finger. Instead one should clean himself
with the other fingers on the left hand. A
lefty should use the fingers of his right
(weaker hand). Some say if one is unable
to clean properly then one can wipe with
any hand.
According to some poskim, this halacha
pertains to women as well even though
they do not put on tefillin.
In earlier times one used to clean himself
with his hand without any tissues. Since
we clean ourselves with tissues, many
say that the above halachos do not
apply today. Others say one should be
stringent.
Washing Hands
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. A
left-handed person should also follow
this procedure and wash his right
hand first.
*Tzitzis
The Gemorah in Moed Katton states
that any atifa that is not like the atifas
yishmueylim is not an atifa. There is
a discussion in the poskim as to the
correct way to perform this atifa.
Many poskim say that one should

place the tallis over his face until
the tallis reaches his mouth and then
take the strings and throw it over
his left side. A left-handed person
should do it the same way.
Holding the Tzitzis
During the recital of krias shema
it is a mitzvah to hold the tzitzis in
the left hand opposite the heart. The
custom is to start holding the tzitzis during
the recital of Ahavah Rabbah when one
recites the words of maher… Some have
the custom to hold two tzitzis, while many
others have the custom to hold all four
tzitzis. Many poskim say that one should
hold the tzitzis between his pinky and ring
finger. Horav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l
took issue with this and said that this is not
considered a holding and one should place
the tzitzis in his palm and then place them
between his pinky finger and ring finger.
One should hold the tzitzis with both
hands when saying the parsha of vayomer,
and they should be held until saying
nechmadim l’ad in vayatziv when they are
kissed and put down. A left handed person

follows the same procedure as a right-
handed.

Placing Tefillin on One’s Hand
Please note: The following discussion only
applies if one is a real lefty and writes with
his left hand. One who does other activities
with his right hand would be entering a big
discussion in the poskim which we will
not be discussing in this issue.
A right handed person places his tefillin on
his left hand since it is his weaker hand.
A left handed person places his tefillin on
his weaker hand which is everyone else’s
right hand. A left handed person who
places his tefillin on his stronger hand
(everyone else’s left hand) has not fulfilled
his obligation of putting on tefillin. There
is an opinion in the poskim who says that
a left handed person should place tefillin
on his strong hand (everyone else’s left
hand) just like a right handed person does.
Others say that one should do this after
davening is over. Nonetheless, the custom
is not to be concerned with this opinion
and a left-handed person places tefillin
on his weaker hand (everyone else’s right
hand).
Removing Tefillin
One should remove his tefillin with the left
hand to show that he is not excited about
removing the tefillin. The daled shaped
kesher of the Shel Rosh should be taken
off with the right hand. The poskim discuss

the correct manner in which a left-handed
person should remove his tefillin. Many
say that a lefty should remove his tefillin
with his weaker hand which is everyone
else’s right hand.
Covering Eyes by Krias Shema
The Shulchan Aruch says that when one
recites the first posuk of krias shema
(shema yisroel etc.) his “hands” should be
placed over his “face” in order to be able
to concentrate on what he is saying. The
poskim say that “face” means eyes, and
“hands” mean one’s right hand and when
the Shulchan Aruch used the words hands
it is not to be taken literally. A left handed
person uses the same hand as a right
handed person (his weaker hand). There
is no need for a person who wears glasses
to remove his glasses before covering his
eyes since it is not considered a chatzitzah.
The custom is that one closes his eyes as
well.
Segula for Concentration by Shemonei
Esrei
One who has trouble concentrating during
shemonei esrei should place his right hand
over his forehead and say three times Lev
tohar bera li etc… There is no difference in
this regard between a right-handed person
and a left-handed, and a lefty should use
his weaker hand.
Steps after Shemonei Esrei
When one takes three steps after shemonei
esrei he first turns his head to the left.
This should be done by a lefty as well.
When one finishes shemonei esrei he
takes three steps back starting with his
left foot. A person who walks with his left
foot (everyone else’s weaker foot) first
should use his weaker right foot to end
his shemonei esrei and take a step back
with that foot. According to the Mishnah
Berurah the correct way to step back from
shemonei esrei is the following: the first
step should be small, then one takes a
bigger step with the other foot, finally the
first foot should meet with the second foot.
One who finds himself in a crowded place
where it is impossible to take large steps
can take three small steps.