[Avodah] Leather shoes on Tisha B'Av

[Marty Bluke]

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. Therefore
leather shoes represent man's dominance over teh world and the fact
that the world provides all of man's needs.

Based on this, we can explain why there is an issur to wear shoes on
Tisha B'Av, Yom Kippur an Avel, in the Bei Hamikdash. All of these are
times/places where man needs to show humility before Hashem and
therefore to wear leather shoes the symbol of man's dominance would be
inappropriate.