Thousands of children in Israel wear torn or too small shoes because their parents do not have the money for new ones. The physical discomfort is only one aspect of the problem, and it is a passing one. Of far greater import is the emotional devastation and long-lasting psychological scars that affect individuals who were shoeless during childhood. The humiliation of wearing torn, ragged shoes leaves an indelible impression on a young child's psyche. And if he/she is an orphan, the sense of shame is magnified tenfold.