„Great is our bodily demand; we need a healthy body. We engaged much i…”
„Great is our bodily demand; we need a healthy body. We engaged much in matters of the soul, we forgot the holiness of the body, we abandoned health and bodily might, we forgot that we have holy flesh no less than we have a holy spirit.”From Shemonah Kevatzim, III, 273
It often happens that any side that engages more intensely in its own matters forgets the need for balance. In this passage the Rav writes to those who study Torah about the need not to forget the body. The need to be healthy, to eat healthily, to engage in sport, to care for the body, and above all not to neglect it.
Of course these things do not detract in the least from the immense importance of the Torah and its study. But in the Land of Israel we must aspire to the Torah of the Land of Israel. And as part of this Torah, the Rav teaches us that a healthy body is required no less than a healthy soul.
These words are dedicated to the recovery of the sweet children Refael Yitzchak Isaac ben Michal, and Chaim Michael Shlomo ben Michal, the victims of the poisoning from this past Thursday.
Good week and good tidings.
From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.