Community Magazine May 2013

Dear Rabbi, Lately, my husband has been placing a lot of focus on his health. I know being healthy is important, but now he wants to use our savings to buy a treadmill. I’m afraid it will just take up space and collect dust. What is the Torah perspective when it comes to being healthy, especially at an extra expense? Health Conscious E I C V S a g e D a A D V I C E Dear Health Conscious, Your question involves three different points: 1)What is theTorah’s viewconcerning exercise? 2) In light of the possibility that your husband might not actually use the treadmill, and your financial concerns, would this be a wasteful expenditure? 3) If you conclude that this would be a wasteful purchase, should you try to dissuade your husband from buying the machine? Let us first address the issue of the role of exercise in Jewish life. In our day and age, the idea of exercising and caring for one’s health has become a trend and even a priority for many people. The truth is that although this is a modern trend, the concept is actually well-sourced in the Torah, yet like many other important values, the idea of caring for our health must be kept in proper proportion. The Torah commands us to care for our physical wellbeing ( Devarim 4:15) and tend to our health (Rambam, Hilchot De’ot 4:1). What requires more careful analysis is just what constitutes caring for our health and wellbeing, and where to draw the line between reasonable health measures and excessive preoccupation. We should also note the distinction between beneficial, healthful exercise and competitive sports. Enjoying and partaking in organized or even personal sports is something quite common in our society, and undoubtedly, many sports do offer good exercise. However, the amount of exercise actually needed to maintain good health might very well be achieved before a particular game or competition has come to an end. We must also keep in mind that the type of sport one involves himself in is often no more than a personal preference, which from a “health” point of view could very well be substituted by a variety of other activities. People engage in sports not only for exercise, but also for other reasons, such as recreation, a healthy social outlet, to “let off steam,” and so on. From a Torah perspective, the idea of a sport as a game, competition, or exciting pastime must not be a point of focus in one’s life. However, playing sports in the proper fashion and proper proportion, and with the right goal in mind – such as to air out, relax, or get the exercise one needs – it is not only permissible, but even considered a mitzvah ( Derech Hashem 1:4:7), as it enhances one’s ability to serve Hashem. Turning our attention to your situation, you need to consider, to the best of your ability, what would be most beneficial for your husband’s health. If he does not get any other exercise within the framework of his regular routine, I would suggest that you do consider the option of a treadmill. But either way, it would be wise to set aside a quiet and relaxed chunk of time to talk this over with your husband in a sensitive and caring way. Express to him how important his health is to you and your family, and how thrilled and proud you are that he is paying serious attention to his health despite his busy schedule and many different responsibilities. Share your concern about whether he would make regular use of the expensive machine, and if perhaps, given budget constraints, less costly options can be explored so that neither of you would be left regretting its purchase several weeks down the line. May Hashem grant you both good health and longevity in devotion to the Torah and its mitzvot . With warm wishes and Torah blessings, Rabbi Yechiel Elbaz 86 Community magazine