SHEMOS:
DVAR TORAH-
The Pasuk says, (3:5) "And He said do not approach, remove the shoes from your feet because the place where you are standing is holy ground."
Q: Why did Moshe have to remove his shoes before he could approach and begin his conversation with G-d?
A: The Zohar states that shoes are a metaphor or materialistic obstruction, something unholy we are involved in that holds us back from serving H-shem to the fullest. Thus, the commandment that Moshe received to remove his shoes is a lesson to us, that in order to have access to holiness, whether it be better learning, better davening, or a better relationship with our creator, all we have to do is conduct a 'Search & Destroy' mission, and eradicate the materialism that is holding us back, the personal shoes of our souls. (Chofetz Chaim, Kli Yakar)
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov takes this a step further by using this concept to explain why H-shem appeared in the form of a thorn bush. A thorn bush represents something harsh and rough, something unapproachable therefore the lesson is even stronger: Even if the holiness you seek is trapped in a thorn bush, it is extremely difficult for you to break through and access it, EVEN THEN, all that is required is the removal of these conceptual shoes, the material obstructions of the soul, and then even the levels that you thought were impossible to attain will suddenly be within your arms reach.
STORY-
[It is in this week’s Parsha that Moshe utters the statement “Mi Anochi” , "Who am I (to merit being a Shliach of H-shem)", the source for him often referred to as "Anav Mikol Adam", the most humble person who ever lived. It is this trait that made him fit to be our first leader, and this same trait which was practiced in unbelievable proportions by the Gedolim throughout the ages.]
All of the townspeople gathered in the small town in Europe to greet Rav Akiva Eiger and Rav Yaakov of Lisa who were scheduled to arrive any minute. As the carriage passed through the entrance to the town, and Rav Akiva Eiger saw the crowd that was gathered, he got out of the carriage and began to push the carriage the last couple of yards, convinced that the crowd must have gathered to greet and honor Rav Yaakov. On the other side of the carriage, Rav Yaakov of Lisa saw all of the people and was certain that the welcoming ceremony could not possibly be for him, so he too got out and began pushing the carriage beside Rav Akiva Eiger. Neither Gadol entertained the possibility even for a second that they were of a stature worth the honor of others, so great was thier humility! Imagine the astonishment of the crowd when the carriage pulled up, with the two Torah giants not inside, but pushing the carriage behind the horses!
QUOTES-
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”
-Ernest Hemingway
"The test of success is not what you do when you are on top. Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom."
-George S. Patton
DVAR TORAH-
The Pasuk says, (3:5) "And He said do not approach, remove the shoes from your feet because the place where you are standing is holy ground."
Q: Why did Moshe have to remove his shoes before he could approach and begin his conversation with G-d?
A: The Zohar states that shoes are a metaphor or materialistic obstruction, something unholy we are involved in that holds us back from serving H-shem to the fullest. Thus, the commandment that Moshe received to remove his shoes is a lesson to us, that in order to have access to holiness, whether it be better learning, better davening, or a better relationship with our creator, all we have to do is conduct a 'Search & Destroy' mission, and eradicate the materialism that is holding us back, the personal shoes of our souls. (Chofetz Chaim, Kli Yakar)
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov takes this a step further by using this concept to explain why H-shem appeared in the form of a thorn bush. A thorn bush represents something harsh and rough, something unapproachable therefore the lesson is even stronger: Even if the holiness you seek is trapped in a thorn bush, it is extremely difficult for you to break through and access it, EVEN THEN, all that is required is the removal of these conceptual shoes, the material obstructions of the soul, and then even the levels that you thought were impossible to attain will suddenly be within your arms reach.
STORY-
[It is in this week’s Parsha that Moshe utters the statement “Mi Anochi” , "Who am I (to merit being a Shliach of H-shem)", the source for him often referred to as "Anav Mikol Adam", the most humble person who ever lived. It is this trait that made him fit to be our first leader, and this same trait which was practiced in unbelievable proportions by the Gedolim throughout the ages.]
All of the townspeople gathered in the small town in Europe to greet Rav Akiva Eiger and Rav Yaakov of Lisa who were scheduled to arrive any minute. As the carriage passed through the entrance to the town, and Rav Akiva Eiger saw the crowd that was gathered, he got out of the carriage and began to push the carriage the last couple of yards, convinced that the crowd must have gathered to greet and honor Rav Yaakov. On the other side of the carriage, Rav Yaakov of Lisa saw all of the people and was certain that the welcoming ceremony could not possibly be for him, so he too got out and began pushing the carriage beside Rav Akiva Eiger. Neither Gadol entertained the possibility even for a second that they were of a stature worth the honor of others, so great was thier humility! Imagine the astonishment of the crowd when the carriage pulled up, with the two Torah giants not inside, but pushing the carriage behind the horses!
QUOTES-
“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”
-Ernest Hemingway
"The test of success is not what you do when you are on top. Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom."
-George S. Patton