Bava Kamma 91b
Unique Treatment of Garments
View Mode
Passage Content
But perhaps garments are different, in that
tearing them is a loss that is irreversible,
like that practice of Rabbi Yochanan, who
would refer to his garments as: My honor, and
like that practice of Rav Chisda, who, when
he would walk among thorns and shrubs, would
raise his clothing despite the fact that his
skin would get scratched by the thorns.
He said in explanation of his actions: This flesh
will heal if scratched, but that garment will not
heal if torn. Similarly, perhaps it is prohibited to
rend one’s garments, but it is permitted to injure oneself.
tearing them is a loss that is irreversible,
like that practice of Rabbi Yochanan, who
would refer to his garments as: My honor, and
like that practice of Rav Chisda, who, when
he would walk among thorns and shrubs, would
raise his clothing despite the fact that his
skin would get scratched by the thorns.
He said in explanation of his actions: This flesh
will heal if scratched, but that garment will not
heal if torn. Similarly, perhaps it is prohibited to
rend one’s garments, but it is permitted to injure oneself.