Do Not Transgress a Light Mitzvah in Public and Shoes

אפילו לשנויי ערקתא במסאנא
Even when the king did not decree, one may not transgress even a light Mitzvah in public, he must submit to be killed. This applies even to a light mitzvah such as a change regarding the Jewish practice regarding shoes.

How do we explain the practice regarding shoes ערקתא במסאנא?

1. Rashi: The Jews tie their shoes differently than the non-Jewish practice, but he does not explain the difference. (Others explain Jews tie their left shoe prior to tying the right shoe.)
2. Rashba: Explains the Jews have specifically used black shoes (which expresses a more modest presentation).
3. Tosfos Rosh: The standard shoe color was black for all. Rather, the Jews used a different color of white for the laces, while the non-Jews used black laces.
4. HaAruch: The Jews wore black laces in remembrance of the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash. And the non-Jews attempted to make a decree that the Jews should change to white laces
5. Some Rishonim: The non-Jews used red laces and the Jews used a more modest color of black.
6. Meiri: The Jews tied the shoes with leather laces and the non-Jews used string laces.
7. Sheiltos: The Gemara was not referring to the differences in shoe uses between the Jews and non-Jews. Rather, the non-Jewish authorities told the Jews to bow to idols in a manner of ערקתא במסאנא, which means to bend down and remove (adjust) the shoes, appearing like they were bowing. Even for such an appearance in times of religious persecution, Chaza”l declared one must sacrifice one’s life and avoid this appearance (even in private).

MODERN APPLICATION

DO NOT CHANGE EVEN A “LIGHT” MITZVAH

Rav Herschel Schachter states that the very idea of ordaining women being “yehareg ve’al ya’avor (die rather than violate)” is based on an innovative understanding of the law in the Talmud of “arkesa d’mesana” – “laces (?) of the shoes”. Rav Schachter explained this Talmudic concept that even the smallest infraction can become “yehareg ve’al ya’avor” – even how you tie your shoe – if it is in the context of “she’as hashmad” – a time when Jews are being persecuted for keeping Judaism, even down to the smallest detail like how Jews tie their shoes. The innovative read on this Talmudic concept was pioneered by Rav Schachter’s teacher, Rav Soloveitchik, in taking on what the Rav saw as the “she’as hashmad” in the and 1950’s and ‘60’s, when the Conservative and Reform movements’ popularity in Jewish circles created an atmosphere of pressure on Orthodox Jews to compromise their halacha and conform to Reform and Conservative styles of Jewish worship. Thus, even davening in a Reform or Conservative synagogue, with mixed seating and other infractions of halacha, while not normally seen as a central violation meriting “yehareg ve’al ya’avor”, in the context of the social pressures and climate of the 1950’s and ‘60’s were classified by the Rav as “yehareg ve’al ya’avor”. This is certainly an innovative and revolutionary way of viewing a two thousand year old halacha from the Talmud. Rav Schachter continues in Rav Soloveitchik’s innovative interpretation, by seeing the act of ordaining women rabbis as Orthodox Jews knuckling under pressure from a climate of feminism in society and amongst the other movements of Judaism and thus, forbidden by halacha and subject to “yehareg ve’al ya’avor.”