Shemos-Shovavim: Remove Your Shoes
When Rav Yehuda Zev Segal, zt’l, the Manchester Rosh Yeshivah, was visiting Vienna on matters related to the Jewish community, he unexpectedly requested that someone take him to daven at the kever of the Chortkover Rebbe, Reb Yisrael Friedman, zt’l. Those traveling with the Rosh Yeshivah were taken by surprise. While the heilige Chortkover, a grandson of the Ruzhiner Rebbe, was beloved as a great tzaddik and talmid chacham, Rav Segal was a traditional student of Mir, davening at kivrei tzaddikim was not part of his typical repertoire. Furthermore, the Manchester Rosh Yeshivah was known for his constant hasmada, singular focus on Torah study and Mussar. Exacting with his time, the Rosh Yeshivah was careful and deliberate with every moment of his day. Of what specific interest was davening by the Chortkover Rebbe’s kever?
The Manchester Rosh Yeshiva explained that years earlier, he had heard a maaseh, a story about the Chortkover Rebbe by which he was moved and inspired:
One afternoon, the Chortkover Rebbe was taking a walk with his holy cousin, Reb Avraham Yaakov, the Sadigura Rebbe. While the two righteous men strolled through the park discussing lofty ideas in Torah and Avodah, they sat down to rest on a bench. When a non-Jewish woman sat right down next to them, the Sadigura Rebbe immediately began to stand up, but the Chortkover Rebbe placed his hand on his cousin’s knee and flashed him a look to remain seated. After some time, the Chortkover Rebbe glanced at his watch and feigned surprise, exclaiming audibly in German, “Oy, would you look at the time… it’s getting late! Dear cousin, we have to go.”
The Rosh Yeshivah said that being in Vienna reminded him of the extraordinary sensitivity of the Rebbe, and desired to daven by his kever in order to merit such middos tovos in his interactions with others.
Our sidra describes Moshe’s sojourn in the desert, tending the sheep of his father-in-law, Yisro. While shepherding, he takes note of the extraordinary sight of the Burning Bush:
“When Hashem saw that he had turned aside to look, G-d called to him out of the bush; And He said, ‘Do not come closer. Remove your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground.’” (Sh’mos, 3:5)
Rebbe Shlomo Ephraim of Luntschitz, the Kli Yakar, was the Rav of Prague and successor to the great Maharal. He explains Hashem’s request for Moshe to remove his sandals before the Sneh Boer. Shoes serve as a separation, a protection and buffer between our feet and that which we walk upon. While walking barefoot, we feel even the smallest pebble on the ground and the slightest presence of debris. At the Sneh Boer, Hashem is summoning Moshe to become “Moshe Rabbeinu,” to assume his responsibility and leadership. Asking Moshe to remove that which separates him from feeling every bump and bristle was a way to further instruct Moshe in identifying with and being sensitive to the needs and feelings of the people in his charge.
“Shovavim Ta’t” is a roshei teivos (acronym) for the parshiyos from Sh’mos through Tetzaveh, and the season in which they are read. According to mystical tradition, the season of Shovavim is a time of intensive spiritual inner working and opportunity for tikkun, specifically related to matters pertaining to sexuality and other errors affecting the Sefirah of Yesod. The word Shovavim literally means “wayward,” as in” “Return, wayward sons” (Yirmiyahu 3:22).
During these weeks where the Torah traces the transformative process of our Nation from exile and slavery to freedom and creating a dwelling place for the Divine Presence in the Mishkan, we are encouraged to focus on our own struggle for freedom from the yetzer hara. We are empowered to rectify our “waywardness” to live with purpose and kedushah, and make our lives a more sensitive dwelling place for HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
As we strive for deeper connectivity with Hashem and within our true selves, it is critical to remain aware of everyone around us.
Rav Avraham Genechovsky zt’l, the Tchebiner Rosh Yeshivah, was a great gaon in Torah and middos. Once when he was traveling on a bus, a woman came and sat next to him. The physical proximity was uncomfortable and less than ideal. Rav Genechovsky turned to his seatmate and with a tone of concern, said, “I just want to let you know that I have kruspidin…it isn’t contagious, but I felt I should inform you.” Understanding that he was sick, the woman quickly gathered herself, wished the rav a refuah shleimah, stood up, and moved to another seat.
Later, the talmid accompanying him asked his Rebbe if not speaking the truth was really permissible in such a situation. Rav Genechovsky smiled: “I said the truth! Kruspidin is the Aramaic word used for tzitzis. But most importantly, I did not hurt the feelings of the woman who sat down next to me!”
In our pursuit of personal holiness, let’s “remove our shoes” to feel where we really are. While we are reaching for higher spiritual standards and intensive inner experience in our avodah this season, may we also “go barefoot” before the “Divine Presence” of other people. n
Rav Judah Mischel is executive director of Camp HASC, the Hebrew Academy for Special Children and the author of the “Baderech” series. Rav Judah lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife, Ora, and their family.
