By Lorne Rozovsky
 | Shoes have always played a role in history and culture. What about Jews and shoes?
16 Comments Posted
I adored and read with interest the article about the role that shoes play in one's life!
I have always had a passion for shoes and reading this article has explained the why's to me!!!! It is a wonderful piece and so well written I passed it on to my daughter. Thank you for the background and information about the souls that enter our lives!
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Thanks so much for an article on the unique subject of shoes!
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Why does G-d tell Moses at the burning bush to "remove his shoes from his feet"? Every one knows that shoes are worn on the feet! Does any one have an answer, because this has bothered me for a while.
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Why does the verse (Exodus 3:5) say: “Remove your shoes from upon
your feet”? Wouldn’t “Remove your shoes” be enough? Certainly Moshe’s shoes were on his feet! Rather, the word for shoe, na’al, can also mean glove (in Biblical Hebrew), as in the glove that Boaz gave when purchasing a field (Ruth 4:7). Therefore, the verse needs to specify “from upon your feet.”
• Da’as Zekeinim M’Ba’alei HaTosefos
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This article stated: "Shoes should be tied from the left since knotted teffilin is worn on the left arm." But what about those of us who are left handed and thus wear tefillin on the right? Should we put the shoe on the right first, and tie the right first?
Thanks
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Thanks to the reader who raised the question about lefties. After consultation with various rabbis, the article "Jews & Shoes" has now been amended to address this issue. Readers are always encouraged to post questions and raise issues that have not been covered in articles. We can all learn from these postings.
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what about in the feast of trumpets or tabernacles when they are entering the temple .
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An observant friend told me that the shoes of a deceased man must be completely discarded, not even given to tzdaka. Is this right? Is it a Jewish custom or law?
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In the "Sefar Chassidim" by Rabbi Yehuda HaChasid (1150-1217) published with a commentary by Rabbi Avrom Price (Toronto: 1955, 1960)). it is stated that one should not wear the shoes of a dead person. It has been said that the shoes may go to a non-Jew but only with the assurance that they will not then be transferred to a Jew. Opinion seems to be that this is more of a custom though one that is widely accepted.
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I've been told that Jews cannot be barefeet (or in socks) inside a house. I was wondering if that was true.
Let's say that the house is one of a school association where everyone esle remove their shoes. Is it "note legal" for them to remove their shoew ?
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Finding an answer to your fascinating question was a challenge. There seemed to be general agreement that there is a prohibition against going barefoot in the house. The difficult question is why. Many think that it is due to the practice being restricted to those in mourning. However, it appears that the real reason is that going barefoot is a sign that a person has been excommunicated. The basis for this opinion is Pesachim 113b which describes a person who is barefoot as one who has been excommunicated from heaven.
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Thank you so much. I popped on line to finally look up something that had bothered me and came to discussion after your article on shoes. We always pass our shoes down to my friend's mom who personally takes them to mexico for unfortunate kids-kids who literally go barefoot all the time. I wrestle with myself that we are not supposed to, but then I think of the kids. My kid's shoes are grown out of quicker than they are worn out. As I read the comments above, and I hope I am reading correctly, that the only prohibition to watch out for is about shoes from the deceased. Thanks for the article and its continuing discussion.
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I once heard (from a reputable, Torah-observant foot doctor in Israel) that there are 26 bones in the foot. 26 is gematria of HaShem - therefore there's another good reason for shoes. We have to protect our foundation, which is not only physically our feet- but also the 26 bones which are representing HaShem who carries us everywhere we go.
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Where is it written that we cannot wear the shoes of a dead person?
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In response to Marlene Lewis (Nov.3, 2008), there seems to be very little discussion of the issue. One reference however, is noted in my posting of March 11, 2008. I would also refer to the response by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg in www.askmoses.com/2061695. I would be very interested to know if any of our readers have any other references to share.
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My step father died and he left beautiful Italian shoes that happen to fit my children, is that a bad thing? What can I do to make it right if it is?
My children are half Jewish, I am not but they consider themselves Jews. I just don't want to do anything that would bring bad luck or anything! Thanks for your time.
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