THERE IS MORE NUTRITION THAN MEETS THE EYE
In this week’s Parsha, Eikev, we are instructed to bless HaShem after our meal. The daily life of a Jew is filled with opportunities to make brachos. From brachos on mitzvos to brachos of gratitude for who we are and the senses with which we were endowed.
There are brachos for the food we eat and the Torah we learn. All these brachos find their origin in the injunctions legislated by our Sages. (bircas haTorah might be an exception) However, the single bracha that the Torah spells out for us is bircas hamazon, the bentching we recite after we are satiated by a full meal of bread. What is unique about food that it warrants a bracha more than any other experience?
Our Sages teach us that there are two components to the food we eat. There is a physical side which nourishes the physical body of those who eat it. Just like animals have a physical body that is nourished by their food, man is no different. But then there is a spiritual component to our food which nourish-es our neshama. From where does that component come?
The Torah states “that not by bread alone does man live, rather from every-thing that is expressed from the mouth of HaShem” the implication is that within the bread there is a spiritual component.
The existence of everything in this world is a manifestation of the expression of the Will of HaShem. Our Sages teach us that everything, even a single blade of grass has its own angel which directs it to grow. And that spiritual being itself has a spiritual being who is on yet a higher plane which directs it. The chain continues higher and higher until we find ourselves at the direct ex-pression of HaShem’s Will.
Therefore, every slice of bread has within it an expression of the Will of HaShem. It is that expression which nourish-es Man’s neshama.
At the end of his laws pertaining to spiritual purity, Ram-bam introduces a notion that anything that is spiritual in nature requires focused attention in order for it to be effective. He is discussing the effectiveness of the mikvah, but he applies it throughout. Perhaps after the HaShem teaches us from the Manna, the lesson that Man does not derive life from the bread alone, but rather from the expression of HaShem’s Word, the Torah then instructs us to express our blessings to HaShem once our food is sitting in our stomachs waiting for the body to begin digesting it. At that pivotal point when we focus our attention on the bircas hamazon, we prepare our neshama to digest the spiritual nutrition of the bread we ate. It is interesting to note that once the food is fully digested and there is no longer a sensation of satiation, the bircas hamazon can no longer be said.
It is no wonder why eating warrants a bracha more than any other activity or endeavor. Man’s entire existence is wrapped up in his continuous intake of nourishment.
So, while the nutritional information can be found on the packaging the spiritual nutrition depends on how well be bentch.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind