Question:
I know that the shoes a person is wearing when he passes away need to be discarded, but can the remaining pairs (especially pairs he seldom wore) be given away to a gmach?
thanks
Answer:
There are various ways of interpreting this custom. Some say that only the shoes worn at the time of death need to be disregarded. Others say it is referring to shoes made from an animal that died suddenly and perhaps the cause of death was a venomous snake and we are concerned that the venom might be transmitted to the shoes. Some explain that only if the person died from an infectious disease are we worried that the shoes might have become infected. Others say only the shoes that were with him in the premises where he passed away are a problem. Therefore there are many leniencies to allow one to give the shoes to the gemach. (I just consulted with a well known Posek here, and he said it is preferable not to give the shoes to a gemach).
Sources:
Sefer Hachasidim 454, Teshuvas Igros Moshe Y:D 3:133, Gesher Hachaim P. 92,. Teshuvas Vehanhogos 1:703.
