I had met Rabbi Moshe Rosenbaum several years ago when I had a chavrusa at the Community Kollel. Yeshiva Gedola Ohr Hatorah used the Community Kollel facility until it recently moved into its own building. I was very impressed with his, and Rabbi Dovid Hoffman’s dedication to teach Torah to talmidim, who found their niche in Yeshiva Gedola Ohr Hatorah. Thus, I offered to give an afternoon shiur there when they were learning Gittin, a field that I had practical experience in. The class heartily participated in the Sidur of a Gett arranged for a couple in Hawaii. Not all Torah learners are cut out to study and implement the practicalities of the subject matter they study, but I have found that the talmidim at Yeshiva Ohr Hatorah are.

The greater Cross Country community was thrilled when the Yeshiva recently moved to its new home on Bancroft Rd. I was especially fortunate when Rabbi Rosenbaum moved up the block from me before the Yeshiva moved, and I decided early on that I would like to participate, on a voluntary basis, to assist the Yeshiva in any manner the Roshei Yeshiva would appreciate. Thus, this past Elul, I found myself learning with Bachurim, whom the Roshei Yeshiva felt could gain from learning with a mentor. Not only have things worked out well, but I rediscovered the resourcefulness that many of the talmidim possess.  Some of the boys play music, some work on cars on the side, and practically all of them are great singers. I discovered that when they participated at my shul in an Oneg Shabbos.

This Zman one Chabura in the Yeshiva is learning Yevamos. The Rosh Yeshiva wisely chose to learn Perek Mitzvas Chalitza. I say wisely, as I observed above, the talmidim like the practical aspects of applying their learning. Does that mean they will be forming a Bais Din to arrange a Chalitza? Not likely, Chalitzos are few and far between. But, as many in the Baltimore community are aware, I have a Chalitza shoe that I made about 40 years ago with the approval of Rav Moshe Bick, ob”m, and have demonstrated it numerous times, especially to Daf Yomi classes.

About a year ago, I received word from my dear friend, the Chief Rabbi of Iran, Rav Yehuda Gerami, that he had to arrange a Chalitza and wanted to use my shoe. Thus, I sent the shoe to Iran with a local Iranian who went to Iran for a visit. Unfortunately, due to the Covid, travel between the U.S. and Iran has come to a standstill, and my shoe is stuck in Iran. I really wanted to demonstrate and explain the construction and Halachos of the shoe to the Yevamos Chabura I am learning with in the Yeshiva.

I did the next best thing, or perhaps it was even better. I bought the necessary leather materials at a small shop downtown and instructed the boys how to make a Chalitza shoe. It implements many of the subjects about the construction of a proper Chalitza shoe we are learning about in the Gemora.

Heading up the project is Dovie Spero from Detroit, who also is in charge of the Yeshiva’s library. Below is a picture of Dovie with the shoe, which is a work in progress. This article is not the place to explain all the halachos of the shoe, but I assure you it is totally in compliance with the customs and practices of a Chalitza shoe as it has been made from the times of Talmud until today. Perhaps Dovie, or any one of the boys in the Yevamos Chabura will give a lecture on, and demonstrate the shoe next time Daf Yomi is learning that subject in Yevamos (June 2022)!

Dovie Spero showing Yakov Rhine how he plans to attach the straps to the Chalitza shoe

Rabbi Sander Goldberg is Moreh D’asra of Cong. Nachal Chaim in Baltimore and a judge on the Maryland Tax Court. He is also a noted author of Sefer Nachal Chaim Al Hatorah, and several popular Jewish historical novels.