Kriah/Tearing at Kosel

[ae123]

How do I "Reis Kriah"/tear a shirt at the Kosel? Wouldn't they not allow me to bring in a razor blade? Without one I can't do it.

I know there are times when one is not obligated to tear, however I prefer going at an obligated time to experience the Aveilus/mourning.

(I believe this belongs in this forum. After all, it is advice for a trip. If not, maybe one of the mods can move it to the correct place.)

[Eliyohu]

How do I "Reis Kriah"/tear a shirt at the Kosel? Wouldn't they not allow me to bring in a razor blade? Without one I can't do it.

I know there are times when one is not obligated to tear, however I prefer going at an obligated time to experience the Aveilus/mourning.

(I believe this belongs in this forum. After all, it is advice for a trip. If not, maybe one of the mods can move it to the correct place.)

You can ask any of the guards for a razor to do it they'll happily lend you one

[MeirS]

How do I "Reis Kriah"/tear a shirt at the Kosel? Wouldn't they not allow me to bring in a razor blade? Without one I can't do it.

I know there are times when one is not obligated to tear, however I prefer going at an obligated time to experience the Aveilus/mourning.

(I believe this belongs in this forum. After all, it is advice for a trip. If not, maybe one of the mods can move it to the correct place.)

I didn't know that in Judaism we look for opportunities to experience Aveilus, but to each their own.

Maybe this belongs in a different thread.

ETA: Wouldn't that be border line בל תשחית? Destroying clothes unnecessarily.

[ae123]

I didn't know that in Judaism we look for opportunities to experience Aveilus, but to each their own.

Maybe this belongs in a different thread.

ETA: Wouldn't that be border line בל תשחית? Destroying clothes unnecessarily.

I don't want this to turn into a Halacha discussion, but if you look around you'll see the Poskim strongly disapprove of trying to "get out" of doing Kriah.
Rav Moshe Feinstein even held that if one goes at a time that he can't tear (i.e. Shabbos) he must tear later (i.e. after Shabbos) no matter where he is!
As for Ba'al Tashchis; that is only when there is no Mitzvah to destroy. Burning Korbanos, Biur Maasros, Avel tearing, etc. are not Baal Tashchis in any way, shape or form.

[ae123]

You can ask any of the guards for a razor to do it they'll happily lend you one

Thanks.
Is this true even now with the security situation as it is?

[elya]

How do I "Reis Kriah"/tear a shirt at the Kosel? Wouldn't they not allow me to bring in a razor blade? Without one I can't do it.

I know there are times when one is not obligated to tear, however I prefer going at an obligated time to experience the Aveilus/mourning.

(I believe this belongs in this forum. After all, it is advice for a trip. If not, maybe one of the mods can move it to the correct place.)

Every time I had to "Reis Kriah" I brought in a full sized scissors. Never had any issues.

[gubevo18]

I just pinned a tiny whole in my shirt and then was able to do it by hand when I got there.

[Ergel]

You can just use a pair of keys, that's what I did last time I was there

[ae123]

Thanks for the good Eitzos!
(That's what DDF is for - helping each other.)

[gubevo18]

BTW One is required to tear on churvos yerushalayim as well. The halacha is that you can add to the tear that you already made for har habayis when tearing for Arei yehuda bechurbonom, but not vice versa. Rav belsky used to recommend taking the bus to the kosel (basically just going through th Dung Gate) and in this way you will first see the churbon bais hamikdash, and then when you walk through the old city adding to the tear. Like this, you'll save yourself a shirt.

 Hatzlacha and may this not be an issue at all very soon.

[grodnoking]

Amen!

[David Smith]

How do I "Reis Kriah"/tear a shirt at the Kosel? Wouldn't they not allow me to bring in a razor blade? Without one I can't do it.

I know there are times when one is not obligated to tear, however I prefer going at an obligated time to experience the Aveilus/mourning.

(I believe this belongs in this forum. After all, it is advice for a trip. If not, maybe one of the mods can move it to the correct place.)

There are poskim that hold you should see the makom hamikdash too when tearing kriah. One of the best places to do this is on the steps behind the kotel plaza (if you would come off a bus you'd go left up the steps instead of right down the steps). That spot is before security, so you won't have issue with scissors.

[Eliyohu]

There are poskim that hold you should see the makom hamikdash too when tearing kriah. One of the best places to do this is on the steps behind the kotel plaza (if you would come off a bus you'd go left up the steps instead of right down the steps). That spot is before security, so you won't have issue with scissors.

Im assuming you're referring to where the Menorah is...

[henche]

I've never heard any idea of avoiding aveilus for the churban.

Quite the contrary,  kol hamisabel al yerushalayim zocheh vroeh bsimchasah

[gubevo18]

I've never heard any idea of avoiding aveilus for the churban.

Quite the contrary,  kol hamisabel al yerushalayim zocheh vroeh bsimchasah

Agreed. Unfortunately it has almost become the norm to avoid kriah at the kosel.

[Yammer]

Agreed. Unfortunately it has almost become the norm to avoid kriah at the kosel.

Yup. The standard is switching the ownership of the shirt with a friend.

[shulem92]

How do I "Reis Kriah"/tear a shirt at the Kosel? Wouldn't they not allow me to bring in a razor blade? Without one I can't do it.

I know there are times when one is not obligated to tear, however I prefer going at an obligated time to experience the Aveilus/mourning.

(I believe this belongs in this forum. After all, it is advice for a trip. If not, maybe one of the mods can move it to the correct place.)

Whichever direction you are coming from (besides shaar shchem) you will see the kosel before security

[Emkay]

Yup. The standard is switching the ownership of the shirt with a friend.

If one of my friends did that I would ask him for the shirt while at the Kosel.

[Yammer]

If one of my friends did that I would ask him for the shirt while at the Kosel.

Lol

[davidd75]

My Rav recommends going at a time when we don't tear(shabbos).  Can't tell you why but definitely seems to be a legitimate shita