Kabbalah Library

641. “Now this was in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging, to confirm anything: One man took off his shoe and gave it to the other, and this was the testimony in Israel.”

This is the testimony is the Jerusalem Talmud, as it is written, “Bind up the testimony, seal the law [Torah] among my disciples.” In the Land of Israel, they were called “disciples of the Creator, and they were there and not abroad. It is also written, “To the law [Torah] and to the testimony.”

Regarding the exchange, this is the Babylonian Talmud, who were philosophizing in the Jewish language, and changed the language to Aramaic. They were all before the Creator before the world was created.

642. To uphold every thing is the circumcision, which is observing all of the Torah. The man took of his shoe is the commandment of Halitza [taking off one shoe as part of a divorce ceremony].

And giving to one neighbor is the commandment of marrying the dead brother’s wife [levirate marriage].

From there, Rabbi Akiva said, “The commandment of Halitza comes before the commandment of levirate marriage.

This is the testimony in Israel. From here Rabbi Akiva said, “Since the day when the Temple was ruined, the champions of counsel have been cut off, and the views have been askew, and the heart is not pure, and everything follows the appearance.