Can I Request No shoes?

↑ ChossidMom

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 6:49 am

salt wrote:

I think it's done in Russia.

So if it's a Russian thing, how come so many people on imamother have this Russian culture? Are they all Russian? I come from 4 Russian grandparents and I never knew anything about this. I was a guest in a few homes in Moscow and was never asked to remove my shoes (except to remove the snow and ice).

Reality

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 7:09 am

amother Hunter wrote:

My personal preference is to take shoes off for comfort including in other people's homes. I don't enforce it for visitors and if asked, say that they can if they wish but no worries if not. We have all our shoes by the door so it is obvious we do this as a family.
Dirty boots /shoes are left outside and do not enter the home.

I have friends/family across the spectrum of insisting everyone removes shoes to thinking it is weird and untznuis to do so. All within same or similar city.

The Japanese all do, v strong culture for them. Avraham Avinu did because the people worshipped the ground or dust and he didn't want avoda zara in his home.
Like all things, it just needs sensitivity eg to people's physical needs, I have a close relative who can't take their shoes off as it is painful, obviously we would never enforce pain on her or anyone but equally I find it uncomfortable to have shoes on for a long time so take them off always.

Avraham Avinu didn't ask the malachim to remove their shoes. The people living in his time period worshipped the dirt on their feet so he asked them to wash it off before coming inside his tent.

I think you are mixing this story up with Moshe. Hashem commanded Moshe to remove his sandals in front of the sneh because it was holy ground. Not exactly useful for your argument here though.

amother

Yolk

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 7:20 am

I live in ny. I have a few sister in laws and a few friends who dont let shoes in their house. I find it super annoying and I hate taking off my shoes. They do this even when they are hosting parties I dont get it, just wash your floors after.

Elfrida

Wed, Aug 28 2024, 7:20 am

Reality wrote:

Well, in the Beit haMikdash the Kohanim were barefoot, and today they still remove shoes before Birkat Kohanim. Most of our houses don't have that level of kedusha, and I would not want to walk around someone else's house barefoot.