Tearing Garments to the Heart upon a Father's Passing
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Question
When tearing garments for the passing of a father or mother, is it necessary to actually expose the flesh opposite the heart, or is it sufficient to tear all garments to the heart without exposing the flesh (such as through an undershirt, which does not need to be torn)?
Answer
It is not necessary to tear until the flesh is exposed; it is sufficient to tear the garments required to be torn up to the level of the heart.
Source
This is written by the Bach, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 340, סעיף י', and these are his words: "And there is room for consideration according to the Ramban that it is not necessary to tear even initially, if so, according to the explanation of the Aruch that the afrakseto is the lower linen garment made to absorb sweat, and so agreed the Ramban, how can it be that one tears until the heart is exposed, since it is not necessary to tear the lower garment, and it can be said that whenever one tears all garments, even if the lower garment is not torn, it is considered as if the heart is exposed, for it is not the way of the world to expose the heart completely in front of many."
And the reason is that when tearing for a father, one must tear to the heart, to show that the honor has departed, as the father has passed, and therefore, since one degrades oneself in this way, it is sufficient.