Buttoning A Coat

Buttoning a man's coat from right to left was the original way, when our ancestors, wrapped in skins, held the right edge with the left hand and naturally inserted a fastening thorn with the right hand. This right to left custom has been retained by the Hebrew priests in their garb to this day. When fighting men became necessary and swords and knives had to be drawn by the right hand from the left side, the edge of the coat, buttoned from right to left, was found to be in the way, and men began buttoning from the left. nonfighting women and priests continue to follow the old custom.