#799: Going Shoeless: Is it a Bubbe Meiseh?
Our elders often caution us not to walk around the house without shoes. Is this just a bubbe meiseh (grandmothers' tale), or does it have a source in halachah?
The importance of wearing shoes is found in Gemara: "One should sell all his possessions—even the roof over his head—and wear shoes". However, this refers specifically to walking outdoors, not indoors.
We are also cautioned against walking barefoot, and the reasons mentioned in poskim are due to the chill factor or for issues of modesty. By wearing socks both these issues are resolved: it's not as cold, and it’s not immodest.
Kabbalah seforim cite another reason for not going barefoot: when traversing the ground, the tum'ah (impurity) therein can cling to the feet. This, too, does not apply when wearing socks in the house. Floors indoors are all covered nowadays; someone going barefoot at home does not come in contact with the ground.
From a halachic perspective, therefore, there is no issue with walking around the house sock-footed. Though some may argue that walking around in socks is reminiscent of the practices of mourning, this idea is not mentioned in Gemara, and indeed has no clear source in Jewish tradition.
Yet, those who are cautious regarding bubbeh meisehs—as per the famous teshuvah (responsum) of the Rashba who advises that we should not take what our grandmothers say lightly—may act accordingly when contemplating going shoeless in the house.