Tearing at the Seam

Sacrifices

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Question

I am at the Western Wall and need to perform keriah. Can I tear my shirt at the seam and sew it back afterward?

Answer

Tearing at the seam is not considered a valid keriah unless the stitching is completely unnoticeable on the garment.

Source

The Shulchan Aruch, Siman 340, Se'if 20, states: "One who tears from the folds, from the seams, from the patches, and from the ladders has not fulfilled. But from an Alexandrian seam, which is even on top and protrudes below, he has fulfilled."

And Tosafot in Moed Katan 26: explains that an Alexandrian seam is one whose place is not noticeable. This is only in the case of a special seam that is so unnoticeable that it is considered connected and considered tearing. However, in a regular seam like ours, it is not considered tearing.

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