Q. Kvod Horav. Last year I had a big argument with a visiting fellow that came to shul on Tisha Beav and was sitting low next to me. He was wearing a pair new tennis shoes (the label curiously was still on them).
I told him that it was prohibited, and he told me that he had asked a Shaila to his Rabbi, and he ruled he can use them. I think he will be returning on this Tisha Beav also. Was he correct?

A. Actually Kovetz Halochos (p. 225) permits if the shoes are dedicated for use on Tisha Beav only.
One may add that the shoes could be dirtied a bit before using them.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a