By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
EL CAJON, California — This week we read about a topic that is on the mind of so many, our health and wellbeing. Moses, on the eve of his departure, urged his people to safeguard the spiritual legacy bestowed upon them at Sinai. He implored, (Devarim 4:9): רק השמר לך ושמר נפשך מאד – “Only, beware for yourself and greatly beware for your soul.” And a few verses later (4:15): ונשמרתם מאד לנפשתיכם – “But you shall greatly beware for your souls.” The Talmud (Berachot 32b) cites this as the source for the obligation of watching one’s health. This isn’t merely about survival, but about channeling our instinct for self-preservation towards a higher purpose.
The parsha urges us, pleads with us, to prioritize our self-care and well-being. Our bodies harbor immense potential, which can only be fully realized when we maintain optimal health. In the Torah’s view, our physical forms are sacred vessels, instruments for achieving greatness.
Life’s journey presents us with a series of challenges and opportunities for personal and spiritual development. To navigate these successfully, we would be wise to nurture our emotional and spiritual reserves. By tending to our physical health, we create a solid foundation from which we can flourish and reach our full potential.
This is also Shabbat Nachamu, “Shabbat of Consolation,” also connected to promoting our spiritual, emotional and physical health. Tisha B’Av is a day of mourning and sadness, commemorating the destruction of the ancient Temples in Jerusalem. Shabbat Nachamu provides a transition from the grief and loss of Tisha B’Av to a more hopeful and uplifting mindset. This shift in emotional and spiritual energy can have a positive impact on our overall health and well-being.
We commonly celebrate Shabbat Nachamu within our Jewish community, which provides an opportunity for fellowship, shared meals, and communal support. This sense of belonging and social connection can contribute to emotional and psychological well-being, which are important aspects of overall health. The themes of Shabbat Nachamu – emotional healing, rest, community, and introspection – can all contribute to promoting a holistic sense of well-being and health.
Each obstacle we overcome, and every step forward, offers a chance for growth and spiritual elevation. By honoring our bodies as the Torah instructs, we equip ourselves to face life’s trials and seize its opportunities with vigor and grace.
We find that by tending to our earthly bodies, we perform a holy service for our eternal souls. Our health becomes not merely a personal concern, but a spiritual imperative. Each mindful choice we make – in nourishment, in rest, in physical activity – becomes an act of devotion. As we honor the body that houses our soul, we prepare ourselves to receive and reflect divine light more fully. In this way, safeguarding our health transforms into a sacred practice, a means of elevating our entire being in service of the Almighty.
Shmirat hanefesh is well braided with shmirat haguf. The Rambam wrote, “Maintaining a healthy body is among the ways of serving Hashem, since it is impossible for one who is not healthy to understand or know anything of the Creator. Therefore, one must distance himself from things which harm the body and accustom oneself to the things that strengthen and make one healthy.”
Our Torah portion opens the door to something highlighted a couple of decades ago assuming a prominent place in contemporary healthcare, “The Blue Zones,” those five locations around the world where people are known to live beyond 100 years. Indeed, when you examine their “Power 9” steps to a long healthspan, it may well have been an extension of this week’s Torah lessons.
For example, in the spirit of tikkun olam, repairing the world, we turn our hearts towards a “Plant Slant” in our nourishment. Let the fruits of the earth and the bounty of vegetables grace our tables more abundantly, as we mindfully limit our consumption of meat. This way of eating honors the land and our bodies, vessels of the divine spark within us.
The “Right Tribe,” a concept from the Blue Zones, suggests that our beloved community can be a wellspring of strength and joy. As we come together frequently, we fulfill the mitzvah of connection, nurturing our souls through the sacred bonds of friendship and shared purpose. In this togetherness, we find echoes of Sinai, where we stood as one before Hashem.
As the sun begins to set on Erev Shabbat, we embrace the ritual of lifting the kiddush cup with intention. This moment of sanctification invites us to “Downshift,” to unplug and to release the cares of the week and enter the palace of time that is Shabbat. The brachot over wine and challah become gateways to mindfulness, allowing us to reframe our thoughts and align our spirits with the divine rhythm of creation.
As we honor Shabbat, in our own ways, we sanctify our time with our family and our extended synagogue family. In this, we find a natural harmony with the principles of longevity and wellness. The sacred pause of Shabbat, with its focus on family, community, and spiritual rejuvenation, aligns beautifully with the wisdom of the Blue Zones.
May our observance of these Torah-based health promoting traditions, rooted in the wisdom of Torah and resonating with the contemporary insights of longevity, guide us towards long lives of purpose, meaning, health, and holiness ad meah v’esrim. Ken yehi ratzon – may this be Hashem’s will.
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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun.