Rabbi Yehoshua Alt – How To Eat

Treasure That Pleasure

Dining is a key way for people to unwind and rejuvenate. Let’s delve into the concept of eating.

Eating affords us a special opportunity to connect to Hashem as illustrated in va’yechezu es ha’Elokim vayochlu vayishtu, they saw Hashem when they ate and drank.[1] In this context R’ Simcha Bunim of Peshischa provides an alternative explanation of ein kiddush ela b’makom seudah, kiddush must be recited in the place where the meal is eaten.[2] He explains that engaging in the physical act of eating with the right intentions elevates the physical eating to a state of kedushah.

We should ask ourselves: What are we eating, how are we eating, how much are we eating and why are we eating? Interestingly, the word מאכל (food) serves as an acronym for these four questions: מה אתה אוכל (what are you eating), איך אתה אוכל (how are you eating), כמה אתה אוכל (how much are you eating) and למה אתה אוכל (why are you eating).

Let’s briefly elaborate on these questions:

1. What are we eating: We should analyze and see Hashem in the food. Let us contemplate some of what is involved in the food that we eat. Look at the ingredients of what we eat and realize each one is a story in itself. Who gave people the idea that combining these ingredients would create such delicious food? Reflect on the process of how the food is produced, the factories and the machinery involved.

Consider the people who toiled until it reached your plate on your table: Who worked the land so that it should be fitting to produce food? Who planted the crops and harvested them? Think about the factory workers and the people who loaded the food onto the truck. Don’t forget about the truck drivers who drove the food to the store and the store employees who put the food on the shelves. For imported food, think about the even larger network of people involved.

Let us not forget to give thought to the appetizing color of the food, its texture, shape, smell, taste[3] and so forth. Imagine appreciating each item of food this way![4]

There was a group of people dedicated to enhancing their sense of gratitude. The leader suggested they think about something they had or did for ten minutes. For R’ Leibel Benjaminson, these ten minutes turned into 35, as he described his morning coffee. He detailed the journey of coffee beans from Brazil. Someone planted the trees and took care of them until the beans reached maturity. Then the beans were picked from the trees followed by being roasted and ground, and then packed for shipping. He described the work involved in the shipping industry that allowed the coffee to reach the United States. This alone required hundreds of people. The coffee then arrived at the port in Haifa from where it was taken to the grocery store in Yerushalayim. He wrote about the gas range boiling the water and the convenience of a match over rubbing sticks. He wrote how the gas reached his home and what was necessary to build his stove. The water kettle whistled to let him know that the water boiled. The milk he added required many people from the time it left the cow until it reached his coffee cup. This didn’t even include the cup, the teaspoon, the table it was placed on and the chair he sat on.[5]

Here are some practices to help us become more present and sensitive to the moment, enhancing the enjoyment of the pleasures Hashem has bestowed upon us. These practices can be applied to eating, admiring a magnificent site, enjoying a vacation, attending a wedding and so on. Start by counting from 1 to 10, becoming more present with each number. While counting ask yourself these questions: Am I sitting or standing? Am I breathing heavily or calmly? Are my hands folded, in my pocket or touching anything? What is in my immediate surroundings? Then, focus on the external environment: Do I hear traffic, honking or people talking? Is there silence or noise in the room?

2. How we eat: What are your intentions when you eat? Is it to help you learn, daven and be healthy?[6] Do you eat with proper etiquette? Do you eat in accordance with halachah?[7]

After a fast, R’ Alexander Ziskind, the author of Yesod V’shoresh Ha’avodah, would eat small fish with bones. This practice was done so that he would eat patiently and conquer his desire for food.[8] This is an example of va’achaltem sham lifnei Hashem Elokeichem,[9] eating in Hashem’s presence!

3. How much do we eat: Do we overeat?[10] The Rambam writes that undereating is one of the three ways that a person avoids illness and increases his strength.[11] He writes further[12] that overeating is the main cause of illness.[13] We should eat in accordance with tzadik ochail l’sova nafsho,[14] a righteous man eats to satisfy his soul.

4. Why are we eating: We should eat to serve Hashem[15] and to enjoy[16] his world.[17] The pasuk states kol amah ne’enachim mevakshim lechem, her people are sighing, searching for bread.[18] R’ Yissachar Ber Zlotchov explains that while they want the bread, the bread doesn’t want them, since they are doing it to fulfill their own desires. Let us ask ourselves, “Do we eat to live or do we live to eat?”

The Brisker Rav meticulously prepared in advance the exact amount of food he needed for Shabbos. Once, after Shabbos, those around him noticed that he had a spare apple and banana. When asked, he explained that one should recite 100 brachos every day. Since on Shabbos there are fewer brachos in the Shemoneh Esrei, one should recite additional brachos to reach 100. The Brisker Rav explained that he had enough food items for the 100 brachos. That Shabbos, however, he received an unexpected aliyah. Since the aliyah covered two brachos, he did not need to eat these two food items to meet his goal of 100 brachos.

The gemara states kan kodem bracha kan l’achar bracha,[19] before one says a bracha on food it belongs to Hashem[20] whereas after the bracha it belongs to him. The Afikai Yehuda explains differently: Before a person says a bracha it is his, meaning it is lowly physicality. However, after he says a bracha it belongs to Hashem since it was just elevated.

The story is told of a chassid who asked the Stoliner Rebbe, R’ Aharon Karliner, about the difference between their approaches to reciting a bracha. The Stoliner Rebbe replied, “You recite a bracha in order to eat whereas I eat in order to recite a bracha!”

R’ Avraham Yeshaya Shteinman, R’ Chaim Kanievsky’s grandson, recalled that as a child, they once served compote for dessert which he didn’t eat.  When R’ Chaim asked him why he didn’t eat it, he said that he disliked it. R’ Chaim’s response: “What will be with the 100 brachos you need to recite daily?” That was R’ Chaim’s approach to food in general. Whether you liked the taste or not was irrelevant; eating was a means to recite a bracha.

May we all merit to practice these principles and fulfill zeh ha’shulchan asher lifnei Hashem, this is the table that is before Hashem.[21]