COLlive.com checked in with Crown Heights Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky whether the trendy TOMS shoes are permitted to be worn on Yom Kippur. 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 | 
