#17: Wearing Special Clothes for Shabbat

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski
  1. It is a mitzvah to wear special clothes on Shabbat in honor of the day (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 262:2), even if one wears fancy clothes during the week. Ideally, it is recommended to wear different shoes on Shabbat as well, especially if one owns multiple pairs, but one need not wear special undergarments for Shabbat since they are not visible (Chut Shani 1:3; see also Mishnah Berurah 262:5, who describes the more stringent practice of the Arizal).
  2. The mitzvah to wear special clothes applies even if one remains in her house all of Shabbat and does not leave, since the mitzvah to honor Shabbat in this manner applies even in the privacy of one’s home (Mishnah Berurah 262:6; Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchatah 42:56). This was especially relevant during periods of Covid when many did not leave their homes.

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.