Siman 2 Seif 1:

One should put on his undershirt while he is still lying down so that when he gets up, he will be covered.



• A person must conduct himself with modesty before Hashem even when it is night, and one is in private since His Glory fills the earth. (M.B. 1)
• A person should be careful not to reveal body parts that are usually covered. (M.B. 1) However in a time of need (e.x. if it is very hot), a person can be lenient to reveal covered body parts. (Halacha Berurah 2:1)
• A person should put his socks on under his covers since a person doesn’t go out barefoot. (M.B. 1) Nowadays it is permitted since many people wear sandals without socks in the summertime. (Halacha Berurah 2:1)
• Putting one’s clothing beneath his head causes one to forget his learning unless he places a separation between his head and his clothing. (M.B. 2) Therefore he can put his clothing under his pillow. (Halacha Berurah 2:4)
• Putting on two garments at the same time also causes one to forget his learning. (M.B. 2) Included in this is putting two hats (a hat and a kippah) on at the same time. (K.H. 2:6) However shoes with rubbers can be put on at the same time. (Halacha Berurah 2:3)
• To remove two pieces of clothing at one time
• is permitted. (Yabia Omer 11:1)
• Reading the writing on a grave or gazing at the face of a corpse also causes one to forget his learning. (M.B. 2) Only if the writing is protruding it should not be read but if it is engraved it is permitted to read. (K.H. 2:3)

Siman 2 Seif 2:

One should not say, “I am alone in my room, who can see me?” since Hashem fills the world.

Siman 2 Seif 3:

One must be careful not to wear his shirt inside out.

• Even undergarments should not be worn inside out. (M.B. 3)
• One should hold his garment in his right hand and then put on the right side followed by the left side having in mind that everything emanates from the right side. (M.B. 4)

Siman 2 Seif 4:

One should put on his right shoe without tying it. Subsequently, he should put on his left shoe and tie it and then return and tie his right shoe. Even when putting on shoes that don’t tie one should put on the right shoe first.

• A lefty should put on his right shoe then his left shoe then he should tie his right shoe and then his left shoe. (M.B. 6) If a person is a lefty only with his hands but with his feet, he is a righty he should tie his left shoe first. (Halacha Berurah 2:6)
• When he washes his hands, he should wash the right hand first. (M.B. 7)
• When he bathes himself, he should wash his head first. (M.B. 7) Also when he gets dressed, he should put his hat or kippah on first (BenIsh Hai VaYislah 17, K.H. 9)

Siman 2 Seif 5:

The left shoe should be removed before the right shoe.

• A person should untie his right shoe first (Halacha Berurah 2:7)

Shulchan Aruch Siman 2 Seif 4

ואחר כך ינעול של שמאל ויקשרנו ויחזור ויקשר של ימין

Subsequently, he should put on his left shoe and tie it and then return and tie his right shoe.

Two reasons are given for the halacha that the left shoe is tied before the right shoe. One explanation is based on the Gemara Chulin (89a) that draws a parallel between tefillin and shoes. The Gemara there relates that when Avraham Avinu refused to accept even a shoe strap from Sedom, his descendants merited the mitzvah of tefillin. Accordingly, since tefillin are tied on the left arm it follows that one will tie his left shoe first. A second reason mentioned in Mishnah Berurah (2:6) is that tefillin serves as the example that teaches that when it comes to matters that involve tying, priority is given to left over the right. A practical difference between these two approaches is whether one should give priority to the left side when tying other garments. According to the first explanation there is a direct link between tefillin and shoes and there is no basis to expand this connection to include other garments. According to the second explanation, the principle is that when it comes to tying, priority is given to the left and thus any garment that will be tied, one would give precedence to the left side. It seems that Mishnah Berurah (1:6) who ruled that one need not tie his left sock before his right sock follows the opinion that regarding other garments it is not necessary to tie the left side before the right side. The Halacha Berurah (2:8) on the other hand follows the other opinion and therefore rules that even with other garments he should tie the left garment first.

Another practical difference between these two approaches is whether women are obligated to tie their left shoe before their right shoe. Some authorities (Halacha Berurah 2:6) maintain that even women should tie their left shoe before their right shoe. This follows the approach that priority is given to the left for all matters of tying. Others maintain that since women do not wear tefillin they should tie their right shoe first (Halichot Shelomo Tefilah 2:20). Sefer Meir Oz relates that Rebbetzin Kanievsky told him that she used to tie her left shoe first and her husband Rav Chaim Kanievsky instructed her to tie her right shoe first.