This verse clearly connects our physical sustenance and health to spiritual service. The commentator Kli Yakar identifies an inconsistency in the verse which teaches a beautiful lesson. It begins in the plural, ועבדתם (And you [plural] will serve), and continues in the singular, לחמך (your [singular] bread).

He explains that all Jews are responsible for one another and therefore each individual’s bread won’t be blessed until all Jews are serving HaShem in unity. Hence the usage of “serving” in the plural tense and “your bread” in the singular.

This fundamental idea can be applied in all areas of our lives, particularly – as the verse openly states – to our eating and wellbeing. We all have the responsibility to educate and encourage each other in proper health care and nutrition.  We can’t turn a blind eye toward unhealthy practices, such as poor eating habits and lack of any physical exercise.

Of course we must do it in a manner that is enabling and positive, not preaching and condescending. The most effective approach, as we all know, is by example.

The significance we place on our healthy behavior with food and physical care leaves an indelible impression on our family and friends. With 70% of Americans overweight, 30% of which are obese, the struggle with eating affects most people we know.

And as the Kli Yakar teaches, we are all responsible for one another – as well as our own healthy behavior with food and personal care. It’s a plain and painful lesson that our health is not to be taken lightly – for in an instant, things can drastically change (G-d forbid).

Tragically, many of us carry a rather cavalier and carefree attitude around when it comes to our wellbeing. We don’t really internalize the need to eat properly and take appropriate care of our bodies. We’re too busy, or have other more important things to do. But do we?

The RAMCHAL (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto) in Derech HaShem, (section 1, chapter 4, paragraph 7) speaks about the responsibility incumbent upon a person while utilizing this world for his own needs (e.g. eating):

“(He) should be motivated by the need to best maintain his health and preserve his life, and not merely to satisfy his physical urges and superfluous desires. One’s motivation in maintaining his body should furthermore be so that the soul should be able to use it to serve its Creator, without being hampered by the body’s weakness and incapability.

“When man makes use of the world in this manner, this in itself becomes an act of perfection, and thru it one can attain the same virtue as in keeping the other commandments. Indeed, one of the commandments requires that we keep our bodies fit so that we can serve G-d, and that we derive our needs from our environment to achieve this goal.

“In this manner, we elevate ourselves even thru such activities. The world itself is also elevated, since it is then also helping man to serve G-d [R. Aryeh Kaplan translation].”

Every time we eat, therefore, we have an opportunity to not only satisfy our physical hunger, but satiate our spiritual needs. Good שבת.

Rabbi Eli Glaser, CNWC, CWMC is a Certified Nutrition, Wellness & Weight Management Consultant and Director of SOVEYA (Changing the Jewish World - One Pound at a Time). To contact Soveya: 443-501-3082, info@soveya.com or www.soveya.com