Weekly Torah portion: Behar

By Rabbi Yaakov Marks

Rabbi Yaakov Marks
Rabbi Yaakov Marks

SAN DIEGO — “If you will observe my statutes and my laws, then you will dwell in the land safely. The land will produce its fruit, and you will eat to satiety and you will dwell in the land in security.” (Leviticus 25:18-19) With this G-d promises us that if we follow His moral ways He will guarantee that we will have plenty of produce to eat and attain peace and tranquility to dwell securely in our land.

Several questions are asked about the wording of the promise. Why does G-d say that we will dwell securely in the land twice? Once G-d makes a promise, we can rely on the fact that the promise will be kept. Why does G-d need to repeat it a second time to reinforce it? If G-d promised that the land will produce an abundance of fruit, doesn’t that mean we will be able to eat as much as we desire? Why does He say you will eat to satiety?

The Midrash (Toras Cohanim Behar 4:4) presents a discussion between two Rabbis: “And the land will produce its fruit, and you will eat till you are satisfied.” Rabbi Yehuda says that a person will have plenty of produce and will be able to eat freely from them without having to worry about saving any for the next day. Someone who thinks that he might not have enough means to support himself tomorrow, will limit himself today and save a portion so that he will have something for the next day. Rabbi Yehuda tells us that a person who acts morally will have ample food, allowing him to eat as much as he wants today and not have to worry that he might be lacking food in the future. Rabbi Shimon replies that this is not a sign of being blessed. While you may have the ability to eat a lot to be satisfied it does not explain “and you will eat and be satisfied.” What does this tell us? You will eat and be satisfied without having to stuff yourself.

Life is full of challenges. Bad events can be turned into wonderful opportunities while successes can be turned into curses. When a person behaves morally, G-d will grant that person abundance. How that person uses that abundance is in his hands to choose. Rabbi Yehuda says that having as much food as you want is a tremendous blessing. Not having to worry about how you will support yourself and your family tomorrow removes a tremendous burden from the breadwinner. Rabbi Shimon is not arguing with Rabbi Yehuda about the burden that abundance removes from a person. Rather, he is saying that abundance alone is not a sign of blessing. Once a person receives the abundance, how he uses it is now in his hands. Many people will over-indulge in their abundance. They will seek out the highest quality to the extent that anything inferior becomes disgusting to them. They will also consume their food as a means of obtaining pleasure, and in their quest for pleasure will eat beyond what they need for sustaining themselves. At this point, the abundance becomes a curse: anything but the best cannot be enjoyed, and the best is consumed to the point that it is no longer enjoyable. If a person is able to enjoy what he has, regardless of the quality, that is a blessing. If a person eats with the understanding that food was given to him for nourishment and enjoyment, but not as a means of obtaining pleasure, he will be blessed.

This is what Rabbi Shimon is saying. If a person has the ability to eat until he satisfies his physical needs but does not stuff himself, that is a sign of blessing. He will enjoy whatever he is served and will stop eating while it is still enjoyable.

Many people can’t enjoy a simple cup of coffee if it is not from that certain store. Some can’t enjoy fresh vegetables because they are focused on the salty, sugary, or starchy foods. Others can’t enjoy the flavors of fresh fruit because they are longing for the sugary cakes and danishes.

G-d is telling us that if we act morally He will give us an abundance of produce. We will have enough food to satisfy our hunger and will be able to eat until satisfied every day. However, when we eat, yes, we should enjoy the food, but we should only eat to satisfy our physical needs because only then will we dwell securely and peacefully in our land. That part of the blessing is in our hands.

May we have the merit to have the strength to make the proper choices. May we be blessed with G-d’s true blessing of being satisfied, having enjoyment, and obtaining true peace of mind.

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Rabbi Marks is a life and health coach, who may be contacted via ahealthyrabbi@gmail.com. Comments intended for publication in the space below must be accompanied by the letter-writer’s first and last name and his/her city and state of residence (city and country if outside the U.S.)