Rav Elyashiv: Crocs Not Permitted Footwear On Tisha B’Av
On Tisha B’Av it is assur to wear leather shoes. Crocs are synthetic and do not contain any leather. However there is a Machlokes between Rashi and the Rambam if wooden shoes that are not wrapped in leather, are assur on Yom Kippur because since you cannot feel the ground they are like shoes even though they don’t have leather. The Shulchan Aruch (614:2) paskens like the Rambam who says that it is permissible while the Mishna Brura (5) says we should be Machmir like Rashi.
On one hand, Tisha B’Av is not as stringent as Yom Kippur, which is Min HaTorah, so maybe we need not be machmir. On the other hand, Crocs are worn by millions of people as shoes every day of the year. The Gilyon Halacha U’Maaseh asked the leading poskim their opinion.
Rav Elyashiv said that since Crocs are worn all year round you are not permitted to wear them on Tisha B’Av. Rav Moshe Shternbuch said that while technically you may wear them, on Tisha B’Av it is better not to. Similarly Rav Nissim Karelitz and Rav Meir Brandsdorfer held that it is not assur but Yirei Shamayim should not wear them.
{Matzav.com Newscenter/Revach.net}
19 Responses to “Rav Elyashiv: Crocs Not Permitted Footwear On Tisha B’Av”
2. Comment from CJ Srullowitz
Time July 29, 2009 at 11:42 AM
The Aruch Hashulchan (O”H 614:4) is of the opinion that the Rambam AGREES with Rashi (and Tosfos) that if you can’t “feel the ground” you cannot wear them.
3. Comment from A Maven
Time July 29, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Sephardim who follow the psak of Maran Hashulchan Aruch are allowed to wear crocs on Tisha B’av!
4. Comment from anonymous
Time July 29, 2009 at 12:04 PM
How are they different then from sneakers?
5. Comment from nobody
Time July 29, 2009 at 1:15 PM
What about one who never wears crocs outside. Can he wear it on Tisha Bav?
6. Comment from thegratefulyid
Time July 29, 2009 at 1:20 PM
crocks are different in that even Rabbi’s wear them everyday
who would never be caught wearing sneakers
7. Comment from Anonymous
Time July 29, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Rabbi’s do weat sneakers, they might ne black sneakers but there still sneakers.
8. Comment from Shia
Time July 29, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Yes, Accordingly sneakers with a stiff bottom is also assur. It’s even worse than crocs because it hugs your feet. Don’t bother looking whether there is leather.
But R Moshe did wear sneakers by Mincha on Tishe B’Av.
9. Comment from Avrohom
Time July 29, 2009 at 2:40 PM
What is the source of this Psak? Rav Elyashiv knows how to write when he wants to. Who or what is the “Gilyon Halacha U’Maaseh”?
10. Comment from dovy
Time July 29, 2009 at 3:23 PM
don’t believe everything you hear. ask your own Rov.
11. Comment from moses and the burning bush
Time July 29, 2009 at 4:46 PM
stay away from crocs eitherway. they are an eyesore and totally ugly!
12. Comment from simcha
Time July 29, 2009 at 5:09 PM
how about if i wear pink crocs ?
13. Comment from mazel tov
Time July 29, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Thanks Matzav for posting it. I just called my rov to clarify and he said not to wear them. He said that Yom Kippur is even more chamur against wearing them than Tisha B’Av but one shouldn’t wear them Tisha B’Av either.
I guess I’ll just have to wear my sneakers.
It pays always to clarify with your rov either way.
14. Comment from mazel tov
Time July 29, 2009 at 6:18 PM
To Shia, I just called my rov again to ask about sneakers and he said they are ok, since they’re soft and you feel the ground.
But to Simcha, sorry I didn’t ask him about the pink crocs 
15. Comment from seiing is believing
Time July 29, 2009 at 7:43 PM
I’d like to see the psak in writing, that is his own handwriting!
All too often these pakim are misquotes!
16. Comment from Ignorant
Time July 29, 2009 at 7:58 PM
It’s the Ramban NOT the Rambam
17. Comment from Chaim Moshe
Time July 30, 2009 at 8:08 AM
Each one should ask his Rov and whatever he says is the emesdik halacha - period. When I did ask my Rov, as a result of this news item being posted, he pointed to his feet and said I would see the same on Yom Kippur. He went on to tell me that he had looked into the issue when Crocs first came out.
18. Comment from Lakewooder
Time July 30, 2009 at 3:37 PM
What crocs which are made in China, and are not comfortable at all?
19. Comment from dovi
Time July 30, 2009 at 8:03 PM
i think i remember some pics of a chassidishe rebbe being e-mailed around in his white crocs (prob photoshopped) on motzai yom kipper
1. Comment from CJ Srullowitz
Time July 29, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Forget Crocs. This psak would, lulei demistafina, pasel sneakers and other synthetic shoes as well.