This material was compiled and edited by Rebecca Leeman. Much was prepared by Rabbi Yonatan Neril and Evonne Marzouk of Canfei Nesharim, as part of the Jewcology project. Translations are from Judaica Press unless otherwise noted.
Outline of Sources:
I. Taking Care of our Body
a) Verses from the Torah
- Deuteronomy 4:9
- Deuteronomy 4:15
- Commentaries on verse 4:9
b) Rishonim (Medieval Rabbinic Authorities)
- Maimonides, Mishna Torah, Hilchot Deot 4:1
- Maimonides, Mishna Torah, Hilchot Rotzeach 11:4
c) Codification in Jewish Law (maybe add?)
Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat, 427: 8-10
d) A Hasidic Perspective
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, Likutey Moharan I, 22:5
II. Exercise and Lack of Exercise
a) Maimonides, Mishna Torah, Hilchot Deot 4:14-15
b) Maimonides, Mishna Torah, Hilchot Deot 4:20
III. Healthy Habits
a) Maimonides, Mishna Torah, Hilchot Treatise on Asthma 13:51
Section 1: Taking Care of Your Body
דברים ד:ט
רַק הִשָּׁמֶר לְך וּשְׁמֹר נַפְשְׁך מְאֹד, פֶּן-תִּשְׁכַּח אֶת-הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר-רָאוּ עֵינֶיך וּפֶן-יָסוּרוּ מִלְּבָבְך, כּ ֹל, יְמֵי חַיֶּיך; וְהוֹדַעְתָּם לְבָנֶיך, וְלִבְנֵי בָנֶיך
וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם מְאֹ֖ד לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶ֑ם כִּ֣י לֹ֤א רְאִיתֶם֙ כָּל־תְּמוּנָ֔ה בְּי֗וֹם דִּבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֧ה אֲלֵיכֶ֛ם בְּחֹרֵ֖ב מִתּ֥וֹךְ הָאֵֽשׁ׃
I. Verses from the Torah
Deuteronomy 4:9
But beware and guard yourself very well, lest you forget the things that your eyes saw, and lest these things depart from your heart, all the days of your life, and you shall make them known to your children and to your children's children,
Deuteronomy 4:15
And you shall guard yourselves very well, for you did not see any image on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire.
Commentaries on General Health and Body from Torah
Devarim 4:9
רַ֡ק הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֩ וּשְׁמֹ֨ר נַפְשְׁךָ֜ מְאֹ֗ד
But take utmost care and watch yourselves scrupulously
Commentaries
1. Kli Yakar
" 'Guard yourself' means taking care of the body.”
2. Rambam: Mishneh Torah: Hilchos Deos 4:1
"Bodily health and wellbeing are part of the path to God, for it is impossible to understand or have any knowledge of the Creator when one is sick. Therefore one must avoid anything that may harm the body and one must cultivate healthful habits”
3. Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, Derech Hashem 1:4:7
‘….one of the commandments requires that we keep our bodies fit so that we can serve God, and that we derive our needs from the environment to achieve this goal. In this manner, we elevate ourselves even through such activities. The world itself is also elevated, since it is then also helping man to serve God.
רמב''ם, משנה תורה, הלכות דעות ד:א
א הוֹאִיל וַהֲוָיַת הַגּוּף בָּרִיא וְשָׁלֵם, מִדַּרְ כֵי ה' הוּא, שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵי אִפְשָׁר שֶׁיָּבִין אוֹ יֵדַע, וְהוּא חוֹלֶה-- צָר ִ י* אָדָם לְהַרְחִיק עַצְמוֹ מִדְּבָרִ ים הַמְּאַבְּדִין אֶת הַגּוּף, וּלְהַנְהִיג עַצְמוֹ בִּדְבָרִים הַמַּבְרִים הַמַּחֲלִימִים
II. Rishonim (Medieval Rabbinic Authorities)
Maimonides, Mishna Torah, Hilchot Deot 4:1, translation by Gideon Aronovich
A healthy and wholesome body is akin to the ways of G-d, because it is impossible to understand and know (the ways of G-d) when one is ill. Therefore a person needs to distance oneself from damaging influences and accustom to a healthy lifestyle.
רמב"ם , משנה תורה, הלכות רוצח יא:ד
כל מכשול שיש בו סכנת נפשות מצות עשה להסירו ולהשמר ממנו ולהזהר בדבר יפה יפה השמר לך ושמור נפשך, ואם לא הסיר, והניח המכשולות המביאין לידי סכנה, ביטל מצות עשה
Maimonides (Spain, 1135-1204), Mishna Torah, Hilchot Rotzeach 11:4, translation by R’ Joshua Flug
Any hazard that is potentially lethal there is a positive commandment to remove it and to beware of it and to be extremely cautious in this matter as it is stated "be careful and guard yourselves very well." And if one does not remove them or places obstacles that lead to danger one has violated a positive commandment.
רבי נחמן מברסלב, ליקוטי מוהר''ן א, כב:ה
וְצָרִ יך כָּל אָדָם לְרַ חֵם מְאד עַל בְּשַׂר הַגּוּף לְהַרְ אוֹת לוֹ מִכָּל הֶאָרָ ה וּמִכָּל הַשָּׂגָה שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמָה מַשֶּׂגֶת שֶׁהַגּוּף גַּם כֵּן יֵדַע מִזּאת הַהַשָּׂגָה בִּבְחִינַת: "וּמִבְּשָׂרְ ך לא תִתְעַלָּם' "מִבְּשָׂרְ ך' דַּיְקָא שֶׁלּא תַעֲלִים עֵינֶיך מִלְּרַ חֵם עַל בְּשָׂרְ ך הַיְנוּ בְּשַׂר גּוּפְך כִּי צְרִ יכִין לְרַ חֵם מְאד עַל הַגּוּף לִרְ אוֹת לְזַכְּכוֹ כְּדֵי שֶׁיּוּכַל לְהוֹדִיעַ לוֹ מִכָּל הַהֶאָרוֹת וְהַהַשָּׂגוֹת שֶׁהַנְּשָׁמָה מַשֶּׂגֶת יכִּ הַנְּשָׁמָה שֶׁל כָּל אָדָם הִיא רוֹאָה וּמַשֶּׂגֶת תָּמִיד דְּבָרִ ים עֶלְיוֹנִים מְאד אֲבָל הַגּוּף אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מֵהֶם עַל כֵּן צָרִ יך כָּל אָדָם לְרַ חֵם מְאד עַל בְּשַׂר הַגּוּף לִרְ אוֹת לְזַכֵּך הַגּוּף עַד שֶׁתּוּכַל הַנְּשָׁמָה לְהוֹדִיעַ לוֹ מִכָּל מַה שֶּׁהִיא רוֹאָה וּמַשֶּׂגֶת תָּמִיד כַּנַּ"ל וּכְשֶׁהַגּוּף הוּא בִּבְחִינָה זוֹ הִיא טוֹבָה לְהַנְּשָׁמָה שֶׁלִּפְעָמִים נוֹפֶלֶת מִמַּדְרֵ גָתָהּ וּכְשֶׁהַגּוּף צַח וָאוֹר תּוּכַל הַנְּשָׁמָה לְהִתְרוֹמֵם וְלַחֲזר לְמַדְרֵ גָתָהּ עַל יְדֵי הַגּוּף הַיְנוּ, עַל יְדֵי תַּעֲנוּגֵי הַגּוּף תּוּכַל לִזְכּר וְלַעֲלוֹת לַתַּעֲנוּגִים שֶׁלָּהּ כִּי מֵאַחַר שֶׁהַגּוּף גַּם כֵּן טוֹב וְכָשֵׁר אֵינוֹ נִלְכָּד בְּהַתַּעֲנוּגִים
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (Ukraine, 19th century), Likutey Moharan I, 22:5, translated by Moshe Mykoff, Breslov Research Institute: Jerusalem, 1990
And every person must show great compassion for the flesh of the body, illuminating it with every insight and perception that the soul perceives. The body should also be informed of this perception, as in (Isaiah 58:7), “Hide not from your own flesh.’ Specifically from “your own flesh.” Do not hide your eyes from showing compassion for your flesh—the flesh of your body.
For it is necessary to show great compassion for the body, to see to purify it, so as to be able to inform it of all the insights and perceptions which the soul perceives. This is because the soul of every human being is continuously seeing and comprehending very exalted things. But the body knows nothing of them. Therefore, every person must show great compassion for the flesh of the body. He should see to purify the body so that the soul will be able to inform it of all that she is always seeing and comprehending.
Now, when the body is in this category, it benefits the soul. For there are times when she [the soul] falls from her level. However, if the body is clear and illuminated, the soul is capable of picking herself up and returning to her level because of the body. That is, through the pleasures of the body, she will be able to recall and ascend to her own pleasures. For now that the body is also good and right, it doesn’t get trapped in the pleasures.
Discussion Questions:
1. According to these sources, what is the relationship between taking care of your body and taking care of your soul?
2. How could this understanding deepen your own commitment to protect your health?
3. If you took this understanding as your own, what might you do differently?
Section 2: Rambam on Exercise and lack of exercise
Rambam: Mishneh Torah: Hilchos Deos 4:14-15
14. They have given another principle with regard to physical well-being: As long as one exercises, exerts himself greatly, does not eat to the point of satiation and has loose bowels, he will not suffer sickness and he will grow in strength. [This applies] even if he eats harmful foods.
15. [Conversely,] whoever is idle and does not exercise, or does not move his bowels when he has the need, or is constipated, even if he eats the proper foods and takes care to follow the rules of medicine, will be full of pain for all his days and his strength will fade away.
Overeating is like poison to anyone's body. It is the main source of all illness. Most illnesses which afflict a man are caused by harmful foods or by his filling his belly and overeating, even of healthful foods. This was implied by Solomon in his wisdom: "Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from distress" (Proverbs 21:23); i.e., "guards his mouth" from eating harmful food or eating his fill and "his tongue" from speaking [about things] other than his needs.
2A: Follow the Rambam?
Rambam: Mishneh Torah: Hilchos Deos 4:20
"Whoever conducts himself in the ways we have set forth, I will guarantee that he will not get sick throughout his life…. He will not need a doctor and his body will be in perfect shape and remain healthy all his life."
Warning: Rambam is not saying that you should not go to a doctor if you feel ill; actually the opposite.
ואנשי קודש ראוי הוא שיאכל האדם מה שיחיה בו שאין האיסור במאכלים רק הטהרה בנפש שיאכל דברים נקיים שלא יולידו עובי וגסות לנפש
השלום יש שלום לכם בבריאת הגוף כי אמנם הבריאות יהיה בשלום ההפכים וזה כשלא יתקומם אחד מההפכים על הפכו:
Section 3: Habits
Rambam: Treatise on Asthma 13:51 (also see Guide to Perplexed 1:31 - on habit)
"One of the most powerful forces of human nature is habit, irrespective of whether these are actions or preconceived perceptions…. For instance, a person might choose bad foods to which he is accustomed over good foods to which he is not accustomed¹ [even though it is the less correct choice].”