STAM
TORAH
PARSHAS
EIKEV 5779
“MINDFUL
BLESSING”
The Chasam Sofer had a gabbai who
would prepare his breakfast every morning - a coffee and a piece of cake.
One morning the gabbai thought to
himself that the Chasam Sofer anyway doesn’t pay much attention to the cake he
is eating. He only eats it because he needs to eat breakfast. In fact, he
wouldn’t even remember afterwards if he ate it or not. At least if the gabbai
himself ate the cake he would enjoy it. So, the gabbai ate the cake and
sprinkled some crumbs on the plate which he then placed in front of the Chasam
Sofer.
A few minutes later the Chasam Sofer
asked the gabbi why he hadn’t served him his usual piece of cake. The gabbai
replied that he had served the cake and the Chasam Sofer had already eaten it,
as the crumbs on the plate could attest.
The Chasam Sofer replied, “it is true
that I don’t remember if I ate a piece of cake or not. But when I recite the
beracha before and afterwards it excites me, and I don’t remember reciting
them, so I know I didn’t eat the cake this morning.
Moshe Rabbeinu warned Klal Yisroel of
the danger of affluence and complacency.[1] "And
you will say in your heart, "my strength and the might of my hand made me
all this wealth!" Then you shall remember Hashem, your G-d; that it was He
who gave you the strength to make wealth, in order to establish His covenant
that he swore to your forefathers, as this day."
The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh comments: “This
means one must concentrate and contemplate upon all the good he has in his life
and that it all comes from Hashem. That feeling will constantly awaken within
him the fact that Hashem is constantly watching him. The first tactic of the
Yetzer Hora is to make a person forget this, and that causes him to become lost
(on his path to spirituality). This is the why the following pasuk continues,
“It shall be if you forget Hashem, your G-d I testify against you today that
you will surely perish.” The Torah is warning is that if we forget that Hashem
is the one who grants all goodness and blessing, the end result will be that we
will stray from Hashem and follow other gods.”
Contemplating and appreciating all
Hashem grants us, is not only a nice thing to do, but is key in retaining a
connection with Hashem. The Ohr Hachaim goes so far as to say that the quickest
tactic of the Evil Inclination is to cause a person to lose perspective of how
much gratitude he owes G-d constantly.
We proclaim in Modim each day: “We
thank You and relate your praise for our lives, which are given over in Your
Hand and for our souls that are entrusted to you; for your miracles that are
with us every day; and for your wonders and favors in every season- evening,
morning, and afternoon.”
One of the aspects in life for which
we should be thankful, but generally completely take for granted, is eating and
the ample supply of food we enjoy.
Someone once related to the Chiddushei
Harim that the Kotzker Rebbe had quipped that he could not understand how
people don't become greater Yirei Shomayim (G-d fearing) from reciting the
words of bentching after eating a bread meal. It was through bentching that
Avrohom was able to draw many people close to Hashem. When they would thank
Avrohom for the delicious food he served them, Avrohom would reply “was it from
me that you ate?” He would direct their gratitude towards Hashem, after which
guest and host would sing praises to G-d for the food they had eaten and for
all His goodness.
The Chiddushei Harim replied that he
could not comprehend why people do not become greater Yirei Shamayim from the
food itself; from looking at it and appreciating it! The opening words of bentching
begin with us thanking Hashem “Who sustains the whole world with charm,
kindness, and with compassion.”
Today, food presentation has become an
entire industry. It is not enough to make delicious food, but it has to be arranged
in an appealing and innovative manner.
G-d could have easily made all food
one color and one texture. The variety of fruits and vegetables alone is
incredible. If one contemplated the beauty of a mundane salad he would be
amazed by the variety. We thank Hashem for that charm which He granted to our
food.
A December 2015 article from the
Washington Post entitled, “Why pleasure is an important part of a healthful
diet” by Ellie Krieger, explains that mindful eating and enjoying one’s food
more, could help a person not eat as much.
Krieger cites a 2014 study done at
INSEAD, a business school founded in France, researchers found that people who
were asked to vividly imagine the taste, smell and texture of an indulgent
food, such as chocolate cake, before being offered some, ultimately chose
smaller portions of that food and enjoyed it as least as much as those who
didn’t think about the food before eating it.
Merely imagining the pleasure of food
before eating it could help prevent a person from overindulging.
“To get the most pleasure from food,
slow down instead of shoveling it in mindlessly. Employ all of your senses to
fully experience it and how it makes you feel. Before you eat, take in the food
with your eyes, appreciating its colors, textures and presentation, and inhale
and enjoy its appealing aroma. When you take a bite, chew well, allowing all
the flavors to unfold.
“Approaching food in this way not only
produces more pleasure as you eat, it helps temper your pace and allows you to
consume less overall. Studies show that when people eat more slowly, they
tend to take in fewer calories and feel just as satisfied.”
Not only is such mindful eating healthier
and help him enjoy his meal, it will help him feel more appreciative of the
gift of his food. It is undoubtedly challenging to bentch with concentration
when we finish eating a meal. But if we had greater appreciation for the
experience of eating it would be easier for us to appreciate the magnanimity of
what G-d has bestowed upon us.
As we anticipate the beginning of the
month of Elul, we prepare to redirect our focus upon our priorities and to
reconnecting ourselves with G-d and true living. One of the greatest means to
do so is by focusing on the blessings that G-d gives us, and which we often
fail to appreciate.
It wasn’t too long ago that many of
our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents endured poverty and
starvation, often under the most barbaric conditions. We, on the other hand,
have been blessed with an endless array and variety of foods available to us.
If we took some more time and thought to enjoy what we are eating, we will want
to bless and thank G-d for the blessings He endows us with constantly.
“You shall remember Hashem, your G-d”
“You will eat, you will be satisfied,
and you will bless Hashem, your G-d”
Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW
Rebbe/Guidance Counselor – Heichal HaTorah
Principal – Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor
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