Q. Re- question 3134 above on making sheheyanu on new and very expensive shoes during sefira. I thought that one does not say sheheyanu on products made of animal skins, since it involves their suffering?
A. Rema (O.H. 223: 6) writes that although many don't recite shehecheyanu on shoes and clothing since they are constantly renewed, they do bless the one who bought them with; "wear them out and get new ones." However, the Rema adds that some assert that this wish should be avoided on new shoes and other clothing made of leather. The reason being that it implies that other animals will have to be slaughtered, and Hashem has compassion on all of his creatures.
Horav Dovid Pam Shlit'a pointed out that the above does not apply to the brocho of Shehecheyanu since the P'ri Megodim (M'Z 22: 1) rules one recites that brocho on a new Shtraimel or an expensive skin coat. (See Piskei Teshuvos (223: 8).
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
