Halachaהלכה

The Proper Order for Putting On Shoes

Jewish law establishes a specific order for putting on shoes that honors the right side of the body while accounting for the practical matter of tying. The sources address both the sequence of donning each shoe and the sequence of tying them.

נוֹעֵל שֶׁל יָמִין תְּחִלָּה

5 sources · all verified

Opens as a working sheet — explore, annotate, and export.

What the sources say

The foundational source is Shabbat 61a, where the Gemara records a tension between two traditions: a baraita requires putting on the right shoe first, while another view gives primacy to tying the left. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak resolves this by saying that one who fears Heaven fulfills both opinions — and describes how Mar son of Rabbana did so in practice.

The Shulchan Arukh (Orach Chayim 2:4) codifies this synthesis as the normative practice: put on the right shoe first without tying it, then put on and tie the left shoe, and only then return to tie the right — with the Rema adding that for shoes without laces, simply putting the right on first suffices.

The Shulchan Arukh HaRav (Orach Chayim 2:4) provides the underlying rationale: the right foot is given primacy in putting on shoes because the right side carries general precedence (as seen in contexts such as the thumb of the right hand), while the left is given primacy in tying because we find that the left hand has significance in the tying of tefillin.

The Kitzur Shulchan Arukh (3:4) states the same practical sequence concisely — put on the right without tying, put on the left and tie it, then tie the right — confirming that this three-step order is the unanimous ruling across the later authorities.

Source 1 · Chazal
Verified

Shabbat 61a

שבת ס״א א — ד"ה מֵיתִיבִי

Shabbat 61a:6

The Gemara elaborates on the proper order for putting on shoes: the right shoe is put on first, but the left is tied first, deriving this from the honor due to the right side alongside the mitzvah of tying the tefillin on the left arm.

מֵיתִיבִי: כְּשֶׁהוּא נוֹעֵל — נוֹעֵל שֶׁל יָמִין וְאַחַר כָּךְ נוֹעֵל שֶׁל שְׂמֹאל! אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: יְרֵא שָׁמַיִם יוֹצֵא יְדֵי שְׁתֵּיהֶן. וּמַנּוּ? — מָר בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבְנָא. הֵיכִי עָבֵיד? — סָיֵים דְּיַמִּינֵיהּ וְלָא קָטַר, וְסָיֵים דִּשְׂמָאלֵיהּ וְקָטַר, וַהֲדַר קָטַר דְּיַמִּינֵיהּ. אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: חֲזֵינָא לְרַב כָּהֲנָא דְּלָא קָפֵיד. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: כְּשֶׁהוּא נוֹעֵל — נוֹעֵל שֶׁל יָמִין וְאַחַר כָּךְ נוֹעֵל שֶׁל שְׂמֹאל. כְּשֶׁהוּא חוֹלֵץ — חוֹלֵץ שֶׁל שְׂמֹאל וְאַחַר כָּךְ חוֹלֵץ שֶׁל יָמִין.

The Gemara raises an objection to Rabbi Yoḥanan’s opinion from a baraita: When one puts on his shoes, he puts on the right shoe first and afterward puts on the left shoe. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: And one who fears Heaven fulfills both opinions. And who is this God-fearing person? Mar, son of Rabbana. How does he conduct himself? He puts on his right shoe and does not tie the laces. And then he puts on his left shoe and ties it, and then afterward ties the laces of his right shoe. Rav Ashi said: I saw that Rav Kahana was not particular with regard to the order in which he put on his shoes. After citing this excerpt from Hilkhot Derekh Eretz with regard to putting on shoes, the Gemara cites the entire matter. The Sages taught: When one puts on his shoes, he puts on the right shoe first and afterward puts on the left shoe because the right always takes precedence. When he removes them, he removes the left and afterward he removes the right, so that the right shoe will remain on the foot longer.

Source 2 · Acharonim
Verified

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 2:4

שולחן ערוך, אורח חיים ב׳:ד׳

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 2:4

The Shulchan Arukh rules that one should put on the right shoe first and tie the left shoe first. This is the standard practical halakhic source for the order of putting on shoes.

ינעול מנעל ימין תחלה ולא יקשרנו ואח"כ ינעול של שמאל ויקשרנו ויחזור ויקשור של ימין: הגה ובמנעלי' שלנו שאין להם קשירה ינעול של ימין תחל' (תוס' פ' במה אשה דס"א):

One should put on the right shoe first and not fasten it, then after that put on the left one and fasten it, and return and fasten the right one. Rem"a: And in the case of our shoes which do not have a fastening, one puts the right one on first. (Tosafot)

Source 3 · Acharonim
Verified

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 2:1

שולחן ערוך, אורח חיים ב׳ — ד"ה דין לבישת בגדים

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 2:1

One should put on the right shoe first without tying it, then put on the left shoe and tie it, then return to tie the right shoe.

דין לבישת בגדים. ובו ו סעיפים: לא ילבש חלוקו מיושב (טור) אלא יקח חלוקו ויכניס בו (ראשו) וזרועותיו בעודנו שוכב ונמצא כשיקום שהוא מכוסה: ינעול מנעל ימין תחלה ולא יקשרנו ואח"כ ינעול של שמאל ויקשרנו ויחזור ויקשור של ימין: הגה ובמנעלי' שלנו שאין להם קשירה ינעול של ימין תחל' (תוס' פ' במה אשה דס"א):

See also

Source 4 · Acharonim
Verified

Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 3:4

קיצור שלחן ערוך ג׳:ד׳

Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 3:4

The Kitzur Shulchan Arukh gives the practical rule succinctly: put on the right shoe first and tie the left shoe first.

וְלָכֵן כְּשֶׁצָּרִיךְ לִקְשֹׁר יִקְשֹׁר שֶׁל שְׂמֹאל תְּחִלָּה, כְּגוֹן מִנְעָלִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם קְשִׁירָה, נוֹעֵל שֶׁל יָמִין וְאֵינוֹ קוֹשְׁרוֹ, וְנוֹעֵל אֶת שֶׁל שְׂמֹאל וְקוֹשְׁרוֹ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ קוֹשֵׁר שֶׁל יָמִין.

For example, with shoes that must be tied, put on the right shoe without tying it, and then the left shoe and tie it, and then tie the right shoe.

See also

Source 5 · Acharonim
Verified

Shulchan Arukh HaRav, Orach Chayim 2:4

שולחן ערוך הרב, אורח חיים ב׳:ד׳

Shulchan Arukh HaRav, Orach Chayim 2:4

The Alter Rebbe rules that the right shoe should be put on first and the left shoe should be tied first, presenting it as the normative order of dress.

לְעִנְיַן בֹּהֶן יָד וּבֹהֶן רֶגֶל שֶׁל מִלּוּאִים וְשֶׁל מְצֹרָע, וְכֵן לְעִנְיַן חֲלִיצָה — לָכֵן גַּם בִּנְעִילַת מִנְעָלִים צָרִיךְ לִתֵּן חֲשִׁיבוּת לַיָּמִין, וְלִנְעֹל שֶׁל יָמִין תְּחִלָּה. וּלְפִי שֶׁמָּצִינוּ שֶׁבִּקְשִׁירַת תְּפִלִּין חֲשׁוּבָה יַד שְׂמֹאל, שֶׁעָלֶיהָ קוֹשְׁרִין אֶת הַתְּפִלִּין, לָכֵן גַּם כָּאן בִּקְשִׁירַת מִנְעָלִים — צָרִיךְ לִתֵּן חֲשִׁיבוּת לְהַשְּׂמֹאל, וְלָכֵן לֹא יִקְשֹׁר אֶת הַמִּנְעָל שֶׁל יָמִין עַד שֶׁיִּנְעֹל שֶׁל שְׂמֹאל וְיִקְשְׁרֶנּוּ, וְאַחַר־כָּךְ יִקְשֹׁר שֶׁל יָמִין.

Related sheets

Halachaהלכה

Jewish Laws and Ethics of Dress

Sources explore the halakhic and ethical principles governing how one should dress, encompassing practical laws of modesty, dignity, and respectful conduct. The sources address dress as an expression of character, the importance of modest covering, and specific regulations regarding gender-appropriate clothing and public appearance.

View Sources11 sources
Tefillahתפילה

Standing Posture During Shemoneh Esrei

Sources discuss the proper physical posture and inner spiritual orientation for standing during the Amidah prayer, including the alignment of feet, positioning of hands, direction of gaze, and the attitude of awe and reverence that should accompany this central prayer.

View Sources14 sources
Mitzvotמצוות

Tefillin Placement and the Non-Dominant Arm

Sources establish that arm-tefillin must be placed on the non-dominant hand, derived from Biblical language and interpreted by Talmudic and later authorities. The sources discuss the principle and its application to individuals with different dominant hands.

View Sources10 sources
Halachaהלכה

Wearing Tefillin on Chol HaMoed

SukkotPesach

Sources explore the halachic status of wearing tefillin during the intermediate days of Pesach and Sukkot. The sources present a foundational principle that tefillin are not worn on days that are themselves signs (Shabbat and Festivals), along with divergent customs between Sephardic and Ashkenazi communities regarding Chol HaMoed.

View Sources20 sources
Mussarמוסר

Spiritual Strength and Sustained Effort

These sources explore the relationship between physical endurance, inner discipline, and divine support. They address how perseverance through difficulty reveals character, how effort awakens heavenly compassion, and how sustained action strengthens the spirit.

View Sources8 sources
Halachaהלכה

Placing the Deceased on the Ground

Jewish sources explain the custom of laying the deceased on the floor after death as rooted in biblical teaching about human mortality and earth, and as an expression of kavod ha-met (honoring the dead) and ultimate humility before God. Rabbinic, medieval, and Hasidic sources ground this practice in both spiritual principle and halakhic obligation.

View Sources9 sources

Explore more