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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
Let us begin by finding others whose shoes are removed. At the burning bush, Moshe had to remove his shoes because he was standing on holy ground (Shemot 3:5). Yehoshua had to do the same upon meeting Hashem’s "chief of staff" on holy ground (Yehoshua 5:15). Chazal made a general rule of it: shoes should be removed at any place where there is an open display of Divine Presence, which is why the kohanim served in the Beit Hamikdash without shoes (Shemot Rabba 2). What is the connection?
The Ktav V’kabala gives two explanations. One is that it is a sign of making oneself subservient. The other is that one cannot wear shoes that were impacted by having treaded on impure things.
The gemara (Shabbat 152a) says: "One who sits on a horse is a king; on a donkey, is a free man; if he is wearing shoes, he is a human being; if he has none of these things, then the deceased who are buried are better than he." The Malbim explains that the most significant difference between man and the animal kingdom is not related to speech or even the ability to do sophisticated things. Rather, an animal does what his instincts tell him to do, and man has the power, as one who had Hashem’s spirit blown into his midst, to act in a manner that is against his natural instincts.
When a human wears shoes, which are usually made from animal hide, he demonstrates that he is not like an animal that steps directly on the ground and is connected to the physicality the land represents. He steps on top of the animal-based shoes to remind him that he is a level above the animal. He is to strive for holiness. When he comes to ground which is indeed holy, he is to remove the shoe and put his feet directly on the soil.
The Torah saw such importance in yibbum that it permitted that which otherwise would have been incest. But what if someone "does not desire to take his sister-in-law," in other words, he prefers his feelings to the choice to follow what the Torah wants of him? In that case, we remove his shoe to show his resemblance to an animal that cannot separate himself from his nature.
It is interesting and apparently not coincidental that kinyan sudar, which is an overarching form of accepting obligations on oneself, is described in Tanach as involving giving a shoe (Ruth 4:7). In this way, the one who accepts the obligation declares that he understands that he has the power to make noble decisions and to keep to them even if they go against his natural desires. It is appropriate that one of the times we use this type of kinyan (albeit, not with a shoe these days) is on the day of one’s wedding.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
