Kippur Slippers
How to adorn your toes on the Day of Atonement
PHOTOGRAPHY AND COMMENTARY BY NAOMI HARRIS EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
H ave you ever wondered why on the hol- iest of days we also get to wear our comfiest of kicks? The concept was certainly not for comfort—in fact, just the opposite. On the Day of Atonement, the Torah com- mands us to afflict ourselves and refrain from certain luxuries such as eating and drinking, washing or anointing our bodies and even marital relations (as if you need more of an excuse than having skipped bathing). We take it for granted that leath- er shoes were once the epitome of comfort and hence the custom of wearing shoes made of synthetic materials. Today, running shoes and slides are often more comfort- able than their leather predecessors, es- pecially with the advent of vegan options. Here are a few recommendations of ko- sher-yet-relaxed footwear for Yom Kippur. So, whether you opt for sneakers, flip-flops, slippers or Crocs, this is the one day of the year you’re expected to wear the sweatpants of footwear in shul.
Photographed at Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue in Toronto.
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