When a young boy comes to an old sandal maker and ask him to make a pair of adult-sized sandals for a baby, the man is confused and surprised by his request. After all, so many children of that time never made it to adulthood and so his request seemed foolish.

The boy tells the old man that three great men came to see the baby and one of them looked into the manger and said Rab and the boy figured if the child was going to grow up to be a rabbi, he would need good footwear.

The boy says his father has given him a lamb to start his own flock, but now, after seeing the baby, has given him permission to use the lamb for the leather. And there their journey begins.