[Avodah] Leather shoes on Tisha B'Av

[Micha Berger]

On Sun, July 22, 2007 2:58 pm, Marty Bluke wrote:
: Why are leather shoes of all things prohibited on Tisha B'Av? RSZA has
: a fascinating answer based on the Shelah.
:
: The Beracha of sheasa li kol tzorchi goes on shoes (in fact according
: to the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch you make it after putting on your
: shoes). The obvious question is why? Are shoes your only need? A
: person who has shoes has no other needs? He has everything? The shelah
: explains that leather shoes represent man's dominance/rule over the
: world. The fact that man can kill an animal and wear it's skin to
: protect his feet is the ultimate expression of dominance....

Al pi haZohar (I am told) shoes are representative in another way.

The soul rises far above the little bit that resides in the body.
Thus, the neshamah wears a body much the way people wear shoes, as a
small covering at the bottom.

Tir'u baTov!
-mi

-- 
Micha Berger             Spirituality is like a bird: if you tighten
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