Helping Kids in Need this Yom Kippur
For the 2009 High Holy Day Season, we are pleased to announce the pilot of a new Yom Kippur initiative that will allow people to fulfill the mitzvah of tzedakah while honoring the prohibition against wearing leather shoes.
It is customary to see Jews wearing sneakers, sandals and other non-leather footgear on the Jewish Day of Awe. This year, we became aware of the work of a company called TOMS Shoes that gives away a free pair of shoes to a child in the developing world for every pair sold.
“Heart and Sole” is a movement-wide project that encourages Jews to wear non-leather shoes this Yom Kippur, doubling their mitzvah by enabling children in need to receive a free pair of shoes for each leather-free pair of TOMS shoes purchased.
Though many of the shoes manufactured by TOMS Shoes do contain leather, the company has a line of vegan shoes that are entirely leather-free and therefore ideal for Yom Kippur.
“Heart and Sole” is entirely voluntary and is a project of the Rabbinical Assembly in conjunction with other organizations in the Conservative Movement. Supporting organizations include:
- The Rabbinical Assembly
- Cantors Assembly
- Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs
- Jewish Educators Assembly
- The Jewish Theological Seminary
- National Ramah Commission
- North American Association of Synagogue Executives
- Solomon Schechter Day School Association
- United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
- Women’s League for Conservative Judaism
- Zeigler School of Rabbinic Studies
