What children are exempt from on Yom Kippur TB Yoma 78

Of course all boys who have reached the age of bar mitzvah and girls who’ve reached the age of bat mitzvah are considered old enough to observe the commandments like adults. Minor children are exempt. Today’s daf TB Yoma78 teaches us that the exception to the exemption is wearing leather shoes on Yom Kippur.

 “The Sages taught: Young children are permitted to perform all of the prohibited activities on Yom Kippur, except for wearing shoes. The Gemara asks: What is different about wearing shoes? It is because observers who see a child wearing shoes will say that adults did this for him, i.e., put them on for him, since he cannot do it for himself. But if that is the reason, with regard to those other prohibitions also, like bathing and smearing oil, they will say that adults did this for him, and children should be prohibited from those activities as well. The Gemara explains: With regard to bathing and smearing oil, they could say that they did this for him yesterday, since one cannot be certain when the child was bathed. (The Gemara in TB Yevamot 114a teaches that even though a minor is exempt from a prohibition, an adult may not provide him with something that is prohibited.-GG)

“The Gemara asks: If so, we could say this with regard to shoes as well. They could say that they did this for him yesterday. The Gemara answers: In the case of shoes, it is impossible to say an adult did it for him yesterday, since the child would not have worn shoes at night. As Shmuel said: He who desires a taste of death should put on shoes and go to sleep.

“The Gemara asks: But the mishna is teaching that they are permitted to wear shoes ab initio. If so, it is permitted for an adult to perform these acts for a child even on the day of Yom Kippur, and the observer will not think that the adult has done anything wrong. Rather, we must explain the mishna as follows: The Sages decreed against performing those actions that are not necessary for the child’s growth, but the Sages did not decree against performing those actions that are necessary for the child’s growth. As Abaye said: My mother told me: A child’s growth requires hot water and oil for smearing. When he grows a little, he must eat egg with kutaḥa, a pickled dip made with milk. When he grows a little more, he must have vessels to break, since he will enjoy breaking them. This is like Rabba who bought cracked ceramic vessels for his children, and they broke them for their enjoyment.” (Sefaria.org translation)

I haven’t bought shoes for any of my grandchildren; however, I do see what they wear on their feet. Especially when they are very young I don’t remember seeing any leather shoes. Children grow so quickly, buying expensive leather shoes for them doesn’t make any sense. Consequently, parents today don’t have to worry what kind of shoes their children wear on Yom Kippur.

Our tradition strongly suggests though that at appropriate ages we begin to acculturate our children to observe the commandments. Children nearing the age of bar/bat mitzvah can fast a few hours to prepare for their forthcoming responsibilities as bnai mitzvah. When I was a sixth grade Hebrew school teacher at United Hebrew School, I encouraged my 12 year old with the parents’ permission to fast on Yom Kippur. If they succeeded, I rewarded of them with the Friendly’s ice cream cone.