In the Talmud Bava Basra 8a, Chazal interpret this pasuk as a reference to talmidei chachamim, Torah scholars, who cut their feet going from town to town and country to country to learn Torah. Horav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Shlita, relates the story of a certain gadol, Torah leader, who grew up in abject poverty. He was able to continue his Torah studies unimpeded due to his mother’s singular devotion to Torah. Winter cold and frost presented a unique problem for his mother. She had three sons who attended cheder and their shoes were not fit for walking in the cold and wet snow. Worn-out and tattered, they leaked from all sides. What should she do? Sending them in torn shoes meant subjecting them to the elements and the almost certainty that they would become sick. Not sending them meant depriving them of Torah study. If this went on for a few months, who knew what would become of her sons? She decided upon a plan of action. Only one pair of shoes in the house was whole. She would take one son to cheder wearing this pair of shoes, then return home with the shoes to pick up his brother. She would do the same for the third son. This procedure would take place once again for their return trip home.
Every day – during the cold, miserable, wet winter – this woman walked to cheder six times, so that her sons would continue to study uninterrupted. This is commitment! This is devotion! This is a Jewish mother! Her reward was seeing her sons become prominent Torah scholars. It was all worth the investment.
