By Shmarya Richler
Pesach has come and gone, and spring has sprung even in Montreal, the place I dwell.
With the beginning of the brand new Rambam cycle, these studying 3 chapters a day might be studying Hilchos Deot this week. These studying 1 chapter a day will get there in the midst of Iyar. As you understand, the primary 2 Halachos of Perek 4 focus on wholesome residing.
Earlier than discussing the Rambam, I need to point out that the Jewish Studying Institute (JLI) might be introducing a brand new course referred to as Wholesome and Holy. It’s a two-part course; the primary discusses the Torah sources for main a wholesome way of life. The second half offers with vitamin and wholesome consuming. I’m very enthusiastic about it and look ahead to its formal introduction within the subsequent few weeks.
The course is designed to be offered to excessive school-level college students and can be utilized in Chabad Homes as properly. A nutritionist wrote the vitamin part and outlined a reasonable method to wholesome consuming. No fad diets and no drastic unsustainable packages.
And now I’m going to get on my soapbox.
It’s time to start out exercising and consuming higher. You don’t need to do something drastic, you don’t need to attempt the most recent fad food plan, and also you don’t need to turn out to be a marathon runner. Because the Rambam says, take the center street. And don’t fear; you’ll have the ability to eat these blintzes and cheesecake on Shavuos.
Those that are already exercising and maintaining a healthy diet do some “Mivtzoim.” Inform individuals what you may have achieved. Encourage them. Don’t be modest about your accomplishments. You by no means know who you’ll assist.
In Perek, 4 Halachah 1, the Rambam says: “Since sustaining a wholesome and sound physique is among the many methods of G-d – for one can’t perceive or have any data of the Creator if he’s unwell – subsequently, he should keep away from that which harms the physique and accustom himself to that which is healthful and helps the physique turn out to be stronger.”
And in Halachah 2, he says: “One mustn’t eat till his abdomen is full. Relatively, [he should stop when] he has eaten near three-quarters of full satisfaction … The rule is that he ought to interact his physique and exert himself in a sweat-producing process every morning. Afterward, he ought to relaxation barely till he regains composure, and [then, he should] eat.”
We all know that the Rambam wrote the Yad as a e book of Halachos. That signifies that his directives are directed to and attainable by everybody. Greater than that, because the Rebbe talked about on many events when Torah mandates a Mitzvah, not solely is it attainable, however we’re given the power to perform it.
Here’s a quote from an article written about Rebbetzin Korf (spouse of Reb Pinchas Korf) revealed a number of months in the past:
“On prime of that, I wrote to the Rebbe that I had been so busy with my faculty’s extracurricular initiatives and packages that I had been neglecting my well being. In his response, the Rebbe calmed me down. He defined that watching your well being is a mitzvah, so there isn’t any means that it may very well be at odds with different mitzvot of the Torah. He suggested me to return to my lecturers in Bais Yaakov and ask them to assist me handle my schedule.”
To those that say they haven’t any time, I say this: The half-hour you spend exercising will provide you with one additional hour throughout the day. You’ll be much less drained, and your thoughts might be clearer. That half hour shouldn’t be an expense; it’s an funding that yields nice dividends. Attempt it; you’ll see outcomes shortly. So, get on the market! Run, stroll, bike, do one thing that will get your blood transferring.
Decide to consuming higher by slicing down on junk meals and sugar drinks (together with sports activities drinks) and your vitamin Okay (Kugel, Knishes, Kreplach, Karnatzel, Kishkeh, Kiddush Membership…).
In keeping with the Rambam, you solely must eat 75% of what you’re at present consuming; it is because your mind solely registers fullness about 15-20 minutes after you end consuming. You assume you’re hungry, however you actually aren’t. I discussed this to a good friend, and he advised me that one time he was midway by way of his meal when he received an actual cellphone name (not a robocall). The decision lasted quarter-hour. Upon returning to the desk, he was not hungry anymore.
Do not forget that as we method Pesach Sheni, there isn’t any “Farfallen.” Whether or not it’s train or wholesome consuming, age doesn’t matter. Begin slowly and be persistent and affected person. You will notice outcomes.
Have a wholesome summer time!
In case you have any questions on beginning a wholesome residing program, e-mail me: well being@richler.org