Shoes While Praying

Is there a requirement to pray shoes on?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

A person’s appearance must be dignified and respectful when praying, similar to greeting an important person or at the very least, in the manner we would appear in public. Anything less than this is considered to be inappropriate.

I am sure you will agree that in the Western world it is quite odd if not outright inappropriate to appear in public without shoes on, especially when meeting important people. As such, one should not pray without shoes on.

Prayer, in this context, refers to the Shemoneh Esrei, and by extension one of the three daily prayer services. One is permitted to recite blessings and the like without shoes on, With the exception of Birkat Hamazon that one should wear shoes, since this prayer has the stringency like the three daily prayers.

Allow me to share some of the teachings of our sages on the importance of wearing shoes in general.

Shabbat 129a: “Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav: One should always sell the beams of his house and purchase shoes for his feet…”

Shabbat 152a: “One wearing shoes on his feet…is a human being…”

Pesachim 112a: “Our Sages taught: Rabbi Akiva told his son Rabbi Yehoshua, to be careful about seven things...and never withhold shoes from your feet…”

Pesachim 113b: “Our Sages have taught: Seven are ostracized by Heaven… and one who withholds shoes from his feet.”

It is worth mentioning, as noted by Rabbi Yehiel Michel Epstein that there were places in history where praying barefoot was common, particularly in Arab lands. This is because shoes were not mandatory and people regularly walked around barefoot, even when meeting important people.

Rambam, Hilchot Tefilla 5:5; OC 91:5, Mishna Berura 95:11, Aruch Hashulchan, OC 151:9