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For a few pairs of shoes?

Usually, the subject of the haftarah is related to the parsha whose week it is read on by a common theme. This week’s haftarah actually discusses the story in our parsha directly, adding an amazing and important element to the story that does not appear in the Chumash. The very first pasuk in the haftarah,from Amos (2:6), states explicitly, “They sold for a righteous man for money and a downtrodden person for shoes.” Pirkei D’Rebbi Eliezer (Chapter 38) says this refers to the sale of Yosef. Each of the brothers bought shoes with their share of the 20 pieces of silver they received for the sale.

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Let’s examine the meaning and symbolism behind their purchase.

The brothers were certain that Yosef was a rodef, that he was pursuing them, was out to destroy them, remove them from Klal Yisrael, perhaps even to kill them. If he didn’t deserve death for that, at the very least he should be sold as a slave. In their minds Yosef’s dreams were a reflection of his inner desire to rule over and eventually get rid of them. Of course, they severely misjudged Yosef, but this was their thinking. But why would they exchange him for shoes? What do shoes symbolize?

Sefer Neveh Tzaddikim teaches us a fascinating insight about shoes. The pasuk (Shemos 12:11) says that when eating the korban Pesach in Mitzrayim, Bnei Yisrael were commanded to keep, among other things, their shoes on. At the same time, Moshe Rabbeinu was told to remove his shoes at the burning bush and the kohanim had to remove their shoes when they did the avodah in the Beis HaMikdash. Why then were Bnei Yisrael instructed to keep their shoes on while eating the korban Pesach?

The answer involves a proper perspective on what we think are “necessities.”

I heard someone say recently, “I don’t know what my life would be without texting! I couldn’t live without it!”

I couldn’t help but think, “Don’t you remember what life was like just a couple of years ago when texting didn’t exist? You survived then, didn’t you? How can you say you couldn’t live now without texting?”

But that’s what happens to us. A new convenience is invented, and we become so accustomed to having it, it truly feels as if we couldn’t live without it. When air conditioners first became available, it was a luxury for most, but within a short while, people began to feel like we feel today – we can’t survive a summer without it. This is an example of living as slaves to physical and material experiences and advances. We all become addicted to the newest technological advance and gadget.

The Neveh Tzaddikim says that shoes symbolize all the things we feel we couldn’t live without. Shoes we can’t live without. Of course, we technically could, but it would be a very uncomfortable life filled with strained, bruised and scraped feet.

Interestingly, the bracha of she’asa li kol tzarki in which we thank Hashem for providing us with all of our needs refers to shoes. This is why on Tisha B’Av, when we don’t wear regular shoes (and in former times, many people didn’t wear any type of shoes), the Vilna Gaon maintains that this bracha is not recited. Apparently, having shoes is one of life’s true needs.

The Kaf Hachayim (siman 46) explains the bracha in this way: When a person has shoes he feels prepared to go and take care of what needs to be done. In addition, Chazal say (Shabbos 129a), “A person should sell even the beams of his own house in order to buy shoes.”

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Rabbi Boruch Leff is a rebbe in Baltimore and the author of six books. He wrote the “Haftorah Happenings” column in The Jewish Press for many years. He can be reached at [email protected].