Putting On Shoes That are Inside Rubbers

June 16 first through 5:25 As explained in an earlier installment, the Arizal warned that putting on two articles of clothing simultaneously could have an adverse effect on a person, causing him to forget his Torah knowledge. This gives rise to the question of whether one may put on his shoes when they are inside rubbers. Often, in the winter, people take off their shoes when entering the home together with the rubbers, keeping the shoes inside the rubbers. Then, when they go back out into the snow, they simply put the shoes with the rubbers on their feet. Seemingly, this should be discouraged, as one must refrain from putting on two articles of clothing at the same time. Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank (Jerusalem, 1873-1960) cites a source claiming that the Arizal's teaching does not apply to garments made from rubber, in which case there is no concern in this regard. However, the Sitz Eliezer (Rav Eliezer Waldenberg, 1915-2006) questioned this theory, noting that there seems to be no reason to differentiate between rubber and other materials. The Arizal taught that when placing two articles of clothing at the same time, the inner garment does not receive the "Or Ha'makif" (supernal light) that surrounds garments to protect them from the harmful spiritual forces. This concern certainly appears to be relevant to rubbers no less than to garments made from other materials. Nevertheless, Hacham Ovadia ruled leniently in this regard, and allowed putting on shoes that are already inside rubbers. This is based on a comment of the Aruch Ha'shulhan (Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein of Nevarduk, 1829-1908) that the Arizal's teaching does not apply to shoes. The Aruch Ha'shulhan does not explain why shoes would differ from other garments in this regard, but Hacham Ovadia suggested that since the shoes touch the ground, which has impurity, they cannot be protected from impurity, and so they do not receive the "Or Ha'makif." Socks, however, are not treated as shoes. The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909) ruled that although one who touches shoes must then wash his hands, one does not require hand washing after touching his socks. Some Poskim disagree, but Halacha follows this view of the Ben Ish Hai. This lenient ruling yields a stringent conclusion with regard to the question of putting on two socks at the same time. Since socks are treated by Halacha differently than shoes, the Aruch Ha'shulhan's leniency does not apply. Therefore, one who wishes to wear two pairs of socks for extra warmth must put on one after the other, and may not wrap one sock in the other and then put them both on together.