Take Off Your Shoes: A Jewish Parenting Lesson From Moshe

I am often asked whether there is a precise formula that allows parents to raise their children without making mistakes.

When I visit schools and speak to groups of teachers, they ask the same question. They are looking for tools, for guidance, for reassurance that all their effort will not be in vain.

I always answer honestly. I wish there were such a formula. I wish I knew it myself. I am a mother too, still searching for that perfect recipe that would allow me to sit back with satisfaction and say, “I succeeded.” That my children are perfectly raised, and I have not failed.

The Reality of Parenting

But reality is different. My children, like many before them and likely many after, often tell me that when they become parents, they will do things very differently. In other words, they are not entirely satisfied with my way of parenting.

I meet young women who dream of building educational environments where children feel safe, respected, and valued. And so, I began searching for deeper guidance.

Learning from Our Leader Moshe

In that search, I turned to the story of Moshe. He was chosen to be a faithful shepherd, the leader of God’s children. At the very moment of his calling, something striking takes place. God sees that Moshe “turned aside to look,” which the commentators explain as a deep act of reflection and attention.

God then stops him and says, “Do not come closer.” Why? Because there is fire. And if you wish to approach, “remove your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground.”

Education as Sacred Responsibility

What is God teaching Moshe in that moment, just before appointing him as a leader?

He is making something clear. The responsibility of guiding and educating others is sacred. It is not a simple task. It carries immense weight, and every mistake can have far reaching consequences.

That is why Moshe is told to remove his shoes.

Removing Harmful Patterns

I once heard an explanation that gives this idea even greater depth. The word “shoe” can be understood as an acronym for three harmful forms of communication: biting words, stinging remarks, and whispered negativity.

To become a true parent or leader, one must first remove these.

Where True Education Begins

When we search for tools in education, perhaps this is where we begin. By letting go of harsh words that wound like a bite. By eliminating sarcasm and subtle criticism that weaken rather than build. By recognizing that education is sacred ground, and that we have been chosen to stand upon it.

Just as Moshe was chosen to lead a nation, we are chosen to lead our families, our classrooms, and our communities. The space we stand in is holy, and the work we do carries deep significance.

May we merit to raise children who illuminate the world, through their learning and through their actions. And may we always remember that, in every case, they are still our children.