Community Magazine July 2014

94 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE E I C V S a g e D a A D V I C E Dear Rabbi, I am health conscious and I always watch what I eat. I therefore find it difficult to enjoy all the extra food on Shabbat because I know it is unhealthy, not to mention the kiddushim, bar mitzvahs, weddings, and so on. It bothers me that many people overeat and don’t seem to care if things are healthy or not. It has gotten to the point where some people say that I’m impolite because I don’t eat anything, but I don’t want to eat food that isn’t healthy. I thought these special occasions were about enjoying yourself, not stuffing yourself. Is there any middle ground? Healthy Lifestyle Dear Healthy Lifestyle, The attitude toward food which you have chosen is indeed the one favored by the Torah. As the Rambam discusses ( Hilchot De’ot , chapter 4), we are required to adhere to a diet that promotes good health, which is precisely what you have chosen to do. At the same time, however, there is – as you indicated – a “middle ground,” which expresses itself in two different ways. First, although we generally divide food into three categories – those which promote good health, those which are harmful to our health, and those which are neither beneficial nor harmful when eaten in moderation – the truth is that it’s really somewhat more complex. Some very healthful foods can be detrimental to our health when eaten in large quantities, while some foods regarded as unhealthful can be beneficial in small portions, and even offer important health benefits that outweigh their detrimental effects. And thus, while it is important to avoid unhealthful foods, as you admirably do, we must also avoid overly simplistic classifications and recognize the potential benefits even of foods generally regarded as unhealthful. Secondly, although the Torah requires healthful eating, it also acknowledges that food serves roles beyond simply nourishing and sustaining the body. For example, the Torah commands us to festively rejoice on holidays ( Devarim 15:14), an obligation explained by the sages as referring to enjoying meat and wine ( Pesahim 109a). Similarly, we are commanded to enjoy ourselves on Shabbat ( Yeshayah 58:13), and our sages list several different delights through which we fulfill this obligation, and these include eating delicacies and enjoying tasty beverages. Quite clearly, then, we are encouraged to make use of food and drink for purposes other than nutrition. Additionally, tasty food and drink are vitally important for our mood and general sense of happiness and contentment, and thus help us maintain our emotional health and even our physical well-being. Thus, just as we are prepared to suffer the pain and discomfort of surgery when necessary for our health, similarly, it is perfectly legitimate to enjoy small amounts of unhealthful but tasty food for the sake of the valuable emotional benefits it provides. Bear in mind as well that many people who adhere to a healthy diet need the occasional “breath of fresh air” in the form of an unhealthful snack or meal which they enjoy. Treating oneself to his or her favorite pastries is often necessary for maintaining a generally healthy diet. And so, indeed, there is a “middle ground” between an unhealthy lifestyle and eating only healthy foods. I would therefore encourage you to continue along your chosen path of healthy eating while occasionally enjoying foods and drinks which are not generally regarded as healthful. This will enable you to find something small to enjoy at social events to avoid the uncomfortable feeling of exclusion which you describe. In conclusion, I would urge you to maintain privacy in regard to your admirable eating habits, rather than publicizing or making an issue of them. This will make it easier for others to accept and respect your healthy eating, as they feel you are not coming across as arrogant and condescending. In addition, it will help you be more accepting and understanding of others who do not adhere to your laudable standards of healthful eating. Bear in mind that for many people, hearing you speak of healthy eating habits would be like others hearing an electrician try to explain how wiring is done and insisting that it’s simple. Many people are not quite ready to suddenly change their eating habits, and they deserve our respect and patience. May Hashem lead you along a path which will be most beneficial for you, pleasant in the eyes of others, and desirable in the eyes of Hashem. With warm wishes and Torah blessings, Rabbi Yechiel Elbaz