At the end of this week’s parsha Moshe reminds the Bnei Yisroel of some of the miracles that Hashem had bestowed upon them during their forty years in the midbar. One such miracle was: “Your shoes did not wear out from upon your feet” (Devorim 29:4). A good shoe nowadays does not last that long. Yes, there is a company called UK Gear that markets a shoe called the PT-1000 which they claim will last a thousand miles. Built with what it calls “Force Dynamic System” – classified technology built on a foundation of proprietary compounds and materials. But a plain leather sandal lasting for forty years through grueling conditions, now that’s a tremendous miracle.
The problem, however, is from another pasuk earlier in Devorim (8:4) where Moshe says: “Your feet did not swell for these forty years.” Note there is no mention of shoes at all (see Targum). Rashi explaining the pasuk says that even though they walked barefoot for forty years, which normally is a situation that could cause (cuts, blisters and) swelling, their feet miraculously did not swell at all. In addition, the Ohr HaChaim (Shemos 19:4) says that this miracle was facilitated by the protective clouds that were underneath the Yidden, which cushioned their feet during their years in the midbar. So, which was it, were they shoeless and miraculously escaped injury or were they shod with miracle sandals?
The Sifsei Chachamim answers that there were two groups of Yidden. There were those who had been in Mitzrayim and had left with shoes. They miraculously were able to continue wearing those same shoes for their forty-year peregrination through the midbar. And their miracle is the one documented in this week’s parsha. However, the Yidden that were born in the midbar had no shoes to wear. They therefore experienced a different miracle, that even though they were barefoot they remained free from injury for forty years.
But still one has to question why the older people wore shoes at all. If the protective clouds cushioned their feet making for a comfortable walk, then just forget about the shoes, leave them in the suitcase and pad around barefoot.
Perhaps we can find an answer all the way back in Parshas Bo. When the Yidden left Mitzrayim the Torah tells us “Misharosam tzeruros b’simlosam al shichmam” – “The leftover [matzah & maror] were wrapped in a cloth and carried on their shoulders” (Shemos 12:34). Rashi tells us that they had such feelings of love for these foods of mitzvah they had eaten the night before, that they took any of its leftovers with them and personally carried it on their shoulders, rather than deposit the packages on the backs of their donkeys.
Now we can understand why these Yidden insisted on needlessly wearing their shoes for forty years. Because on that night of eating the matzah & maror they had been commanded by Hashem to do so with their loins girded, with shoes on their feet and staffs in hand (Shemos 12:11). At that point those mundane regular household objects metamorphosized into objects used for a mitzvah. And the same love the Yidden had for the remnants of horseradish and matzah, they now had for their shoes (belts and staffs). And just as they bonded with the leftover food by wrapping them in a kerchief and carrying them on their shoulders, the same was done with their shoes by wearing them as often as practically possible although completely unnecessary. And every time they wore those shoes, they felt reconnected to the night of yetzias Mitzrayim when they had been introduced to a life of mitzvos and had embraced a new relationship with Hashem.
Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos was infamous for having owned anywhere from 1000-3000 pairs of shoes (size 8/12). Perhaps she had a special pair, a favorite that gave her joy when she wore them. But one thing is for sure, none of them could ever provide the level of simcha that came with those simple shoes lovingly worn day in day out for those forty years in the midbar.
It is said that the Lakewood Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Malkiel Kotler has a precious family heirloom - a worn-out pair of shoes that has been passed down from his great grand-father Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer zt”l. These shoes came into the possession of Rav Meltzer because of the following episode. During the Great War, many yeshiva bochurim whose Yeshivas were in battle areas returned home. One such bochur was the future Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh, Rav Eliezer Shach, who could not afford transportation and walked for many days to get to his home. Upon arrival, he was met by his mother who insisted that he immediately return to the yeshiva where he would be safer than at home. Without hesitation, he turned around and though exhausted, immediately walked back. Upon his return, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Meltzer was so impressed by the young man’s (and his mother’s) love and dedication for Torah he struck a deal and exchanged those worn-out shoes he was wearing for a brand-new pair. Those shoes symbolized someone’s dedication to avodas Hashem and were something very special to Rav Meltzer. And thus, they became a family heirloom.
As parents trying to impress upon our children the beauty of mitzvos & Yiddishkeit let us remember that if we, like the dor hamidbar, show that mitzvos are special to us, then b’ezras Hashem our kinderlach too will find them special. (Rabbi Nosson Greenberg)
