By COLlive reporter
Raizel, a COLlive reader from Crown Heights, emailed asking “to let everyone know that TOMS shoes are not allowed to be worn on Yom Kippur,” when leather shoes are forbidden.
Modeled after alpargata shoes worn by Argentine farmers for hundreds of years, TOMS are made from canvas or cotton fabric. The bottom is constructed of rubber.
COLlive.com contacted TOMS to clarify the matter, and were told by Kaye, a customer service representative for TOMS, that the highly popular shoe indeed has “leather or suede inside.”
The company offers several vegan styles, however. “All vegan styles are animal free products,” she said. “Basically, the entire shoe is canvas.”
After pointing out that our inquiry was in connection with the Jewish fast day of Yom Kippur, she pointed out that “we got a lot of orders for that particular holiday.”
Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky, member of Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch, said only TOMS Men’s Vegan and Women’s Vegan are permitted to be worn on Yom Kippur.
“We can’t make a gezeira (decree) and thus say that all Toms shoes – even without a trace of leather – may not be worn on Yom Kippur,” he told COLlive.com. “Only the ones with leather soles may not be worn.’
In regards to comfort, the Crown Heights based rabbi and author said: “If I recall correctly, last year we had a conversation about shoes without leather that feel very comfortable.”
That article discussed whether Crocs are forbidden on a fast day because of their comfort. Three rabbonim told COLlive at the time that it was not an issue, differing with the Litvish posek Rabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv.
Mrs. Miriam Friedman, a Chabad Shlucha in Birmingham, Alabama, told Religion News Service the ban on leather is less about giving up comfort than eschewing what was once a sign of prestige.
It’s also meaningful to her to make an obvious separation between Yom Kippur and the rest of the year — when wearing leather is fine, she was quoted in USA Today.
“On Yom Kippur, we come to stand before God as a humble servant. It’s not about the shoes.”
LINKS:
+ TOMS Mens Vegan line
+ TOMS Womens Vegan line
+ Find a TOMS retailer near you
I just bought a pair and now find out that i can not wear them!!
I WANNA WEAR MY TOMS TOMMOROW!!!
why do you have 12 pairs you are crazy!! i don’t eavin have 1 pair.
As a non-CH resident, I really have to ask this: why buy $50 shoes that you will wear once a year? Just wondering, as I am not a fashionista either. Payless everyone, payless.
I may be well into the 2nd half of my alloted 120 years but I will not wear “Bubby” shoes. As a former wearer of very expensive Italian shoes of the highest quality I am now a croc wearer even though my feet may look like boats. I have no back problems from them, my feet feel great, they accomodate circulatory problems and are great for walking and for stand long hours. They can be easily kicked off when I want to put my feet up. I like to wear very thick cushiony socks for added comfort. For tznius, depending… Read more »
my father is my rav
r ugly
i always do and to #26 me too
I know plenty ladies who wear no back shoes (slippers) every Shabos to Shul……
No you can’t. It is considered dragging, and a form of carrying, to wear slippers out of the home on shabbos. #14 is right. go ask your rav, he’ll tell you the same thing; back piece must be worn.
that is so leather you guys have to believe me or else…..haha just joking but they are still leather or maby canvis.
no one caers if u think theyre ugly. im gonna wear them anyways and so is evryone else
are black sparkly toms leather?
my toms are not leather
these are the cutest and most cofortable shoes i know
you could wear slippers on shabbos
who told you such rubbish?
I bought Toms dafka for Yom Kippur and they are, in fact, the wrong kind. I guess that’s what I get for trying to be hip. It’s sort of ridiculous that I did vegan kapparos (with money) but I forgot to get vegan shoes. Gmar chasima tova, everyone.
hi all!!! do you know that toms flag is because argentina???
is a fact!
i am so proud of my country..
I cant speak for others, or why they choose to wear these shoes, but while they may be ugggly they are like 9 said, the most comfortable shoes i have every owned
I agree.
If the croc’s backpiece is not moved toward the back, then it is considered carrying. it is just like going outside on shabbos… with slippers, therefore u must wear the back outside of a place that has no eiruv or indoors.
hi COL, i annonymously left a message on ur machine with all the info so u didn’t have to do the research. called TOMS to confirm all except Vegan have leather insole, than called my Rav who said no to the leather insole version. Too bad we didn’t know about this issue and the vegan substitute before Tisha B’av:(
Can i just say on the topic of Toms …These are the ugliest shoes i have ever seen they are right up there with Keds. Please Crown Heights fashionistas get rid of these shoes , just because they are trendy does not make them cute.
This is what you call trendy??? Oilam Goilam!!!
Why if one is wearing crocs must the back peice be in the back???
I thought the same thing, hype, until I bought a pair. No joke, most comfortable pair of shoes I have ever warn.
Thanks for the warning, I was actually planning on wearing mine!
toms are a waste of money anyways.. all hype
the old fashion “yom kippur shoes” are the same thing…
cuz if you dont then you’re “carrying” the shoe
why would you need the back? it makes no difference!
I am so proud of u for informing collive
if you want to walk outside with crocks or any other shoe, they MUST have the back piece turned towards the back.
I’m going barefoot, and that’s all I gotta say about this.
Wow!!
What a great ad. Never heard of this company before.
I had this question on Tisha B’av. Although the Toms is a canvas shoe with a rubber sole….the inside sole cushioning the foot is LEATHER….so it can’t be worn. (only vegan Toms
shoe with no leather is allowed )