19 January 2022 · A sentence from the teachings of Rav Kook

„All eating and drinking before prayer falls under the category of pri…”

„All eating and drinking before prayer falls under the category of pride... except when it is for the sake of healing, where pride is not relevant, for the commandment of healing connects one to holiness, for the Holy One...”From Middot, Ha'ala'at Nitzotzot

When a person is ill and suffering, their eyes are lifted to heavenly mercy. Rav Kook explains, in the passage describing the prohibition of eating before prayer, that this is an essential matter. A healthy person must take concrete steps to prevent their pride. Therefore it is important to open the day with prayer before attending to our private needs. But a sick person is one whose pride vanishes. Their eyes are lifted to the Holy One, and they pray for healing and life. At times the heavy blow of a person losing their pride, and of a world losing its pride, is unbearably hard; perhaps the path to healing is in humility — ours and the world's.

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