Rabbi Julius Berman ז”ל, Chair, OU Kashrut Commission; OU President, 1978–1984, was an amazing pioneer in kashrus, making OU a very successful Jewish organization.
Eating is essential, a fundamental requirement for life. It’s known that eating has tremendous effects on a person’s body and soul, for food is the link that binds the body and soul together and each food according to its unique nature and properties affects each of us. This is. by the way, why certain nonkosher foods are prohibited, for when they are consumed, they imbue their impure nature in a person.
Furthermore, even with some foods that are permitted according to Jewish dietary laws, they should be eaten in moderation. For example our Sages teach, one should avoid food that cause heat or dampness in the body. Similarly, overeating, even healthful foods can cause various illness, fevers, and other negative consequences.
Some food products are manifestly harmful, as they contain toxins or harmful substances, and it’s ludicrous to look for excuses to ingest such foods such as, “I’m eating this to honor Shabbat,” or “It’s a traditional dish”.
Furthermore, a person cannot rely on his emuna and his efforts at teshuva, expecting to be healthy while physically harming himself, just as he can’t rely on the lofty concept of eating special foods in honor of Shabbat to safeguard him while he recklessly consumes unhealthy sweets and harmful foods. Such conviction, rather than emuna is foolishness, as Hashem commands us in His Torah, to guard our health and certainly not to do anything to damage our health in any way, as the verse clearly states: “And you should diligently guard your souls” (Deuteronomy 4:15).
One who guards his health fulfills several positive mitzvot including, “And you shall choose life” and “You shall be holy.”
These pearls of wisdom were some of the teachings of Rabbi Julius Berman ז”ל.
We extend our condolences to the entire Berman family. All our blessings!
בס”ד
Rabbi Julius Berman ז”ל, Chair, OU Kashrut Commission; OU President, 1978–1984, was an amazing pioneer in kashrus, making OU a very successful Jewish organization.
Eating is essential, a fundamental requirement for life. It’s known that eating has tremendous effects on a person’s body and soul, for food is the link that binds the body and soul together and each food according to its unique nature and properties affects each of us. This is. by the way, why certain nonkosher foods are prohibited, for when they are consumed, they imbue their impure nature in a person.
Furthermore, even with some foods that are permitted according to Jewish dietary laws, they should be eaten in moderation. For example our Sages teach, one should avoid food that cause heat or dampness in the body. Similarly, overeating, even healthful foods can cause various illness, fevers, and other negative consequences.
Some food products are manifestly harmful, as they contain toxins or harmful substances, and it’s ludicrous to look for excuses to ingest such foods such as, “I’m eating this to honor Shabbat,” or “It’s a traditional dish”.
Furthermore, a person cannot rely on his emuna and his efforts at teshuva, expecting to be healthy while physically harming himself, just as he can’t rely on the lofty concept of eating special foods in honor of Shabbat to safeguard him while he recklessly consumes unhealthy sweets and harmful foods. Such conviction, rather than emuna is foolishness, as Hashem commands us in His Torah, to guard our health and certainly not to do anything to damage our health in any way, as the verse clearly states: “And you should diligently guard your souls” (Deuteronomy 4:15).
One who guards his health fulfills several positive mitzvot including, “And you shall choose life” and “You shall be holy.”
These pearls of wisdom were some of the teachings of Rabbi Julius Berman ז”ל.
We extend our condolences to the entire Berman family. All our blessings!
Naftali Rubin
Jerusalem, Israel