A New Garment During Mourning
Question
What is the definition of a garment that Ashkenazim should not buy new during the twelve months after the passing of a father or mother?
Glasses, tzitzit, a kippah, and the like?
Answer
Shalom u’vrachah
All of these are considered garments, and it is forbidden to use them as new items during the twelve months after the passing of one’s father or mother.
If he has a great need for them, he may give them to someone else to wear for a few hours, and in this way they will no longer be considered new.
[Regarding glasses: if he cannot find someone with a similar prescription who can wear them, one may be lenient and wear them without doing this, if he is buying them to improve his vision and not merely in order to have something new].
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