The last few Yom Kippurs I have cheerfully bounced to shul in my usual everyday Converse sneakers, thankful for the slab of rubber hugging and protecting my feet throughout the long day.
Yet an article in the Jewish Action gave me pause.
It was about Yom Kippur "myths" - for instance, did you know that since fasting is min haTorah, and the davening service was established later, if a mother would need to consume something on Yom Kippur just to be able to handle her children, her husband who shares the obligation for their children should stay home from shul to help her?
So, anywho, the article continues regarding the concept of no leather shoes. (In the old country, Ma says, they went to shul in socks.) When sneakers were permitted as footwear, it would seem it was because that once they were not as comfortable as leather shoes and did not protect the foot.
The intention was that our feet should be sensitive, to be able to feel the ground beneath the feet. Additionally, one opinion is that shoes that are donned on a daily basis shouldn't be the go-to shoe (there is an opposing opinion, based on the fact that we are "fastidious" nowadays, but I think I can suffer a little).
Guiltily, I concluded that I needed to purchase specific "Yom Kippur" shoes. Scrolling through Amazon, I searched for one that could be easily kicked off during davening, so at least for shul my un-shod feet would suffer in the deep pile carpeting.
(If anyone asks why not Crocs: Crocs are the biggest travesty to footwear out there. They are not flattering, they don't hold feet securely, and children have been caught in escalators. They should be shot.)
But after purchasing five pairs of synthetic shoes, all gave me great pain or were otherwise unwearable. They are all being returned.
Since I have cut myself off from my beloved Converse, I suppose I'll make do with some sad Keds in the back of my closet. For the sensitivity.
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| Via bezbot.blogspot.com |
Guiltily, I concluded that I needed to purchase specific "Yom Kippur" shoes. Scrolling through Amazon, I searched for one that could be easily kicked off during davening, so at least for shul my un-shod feet would suffer in the deep pile carpeting.
(If anyone asks why not Crocs: Crocs are the biggest travesty to footwear out there. They are not flattering, they don't hold feet securely, and children have been caught in escalators. They should be shot.)
But after purchasing five pairs of synthetic shoes, all gave me great pain or were otherwise unwearable. They are all being returned.
Since I have cut myself off from my beloved Converse, I suppose I'll make do with some sad Keds in the back of my closet. For the sensitivity.
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