Who doesn’t want to prolong his/her life?! At the very
bottom of TB Berachot 54b Rabbi Yehuda teaches that there are three things a
person can do to lengthen his days. “Rav Yehuda said: There are three
matters which, when one who prolongs their duration, they extend
a person’s days and years. They are: One who prolongs his prayer, one
who prolongs his mealtime at the table, and one who prolongs his
time in the bathroom.” (Sefaria.org translation)
The Gemara on today’s daf TB Berachot 55 asks how one who
prolongs his mealtime at the table can possibly extends a person’s life. In the
United States we have an obesity problem which we know shortens a person’s life.
So the Gemara’s question is even more meaningful today than ever before. The
answer is embedded in a wonderful midrashic explanation of a verse.
As for the virtue of prolonging one’s mealtime at the
table, which Rav Yehuda mentioned, the Gemara explains: Perhaps a
poor person will come during the meal and the host will be in a position to
give him food immediately, without forcing the poor person to wait. The
Sages elsewhere praised a person who acts appropriately at a meal, as it is
written: “The altar, three cubits high and the length thereof, two cubits,
was of wood, and so the corners thereof; the length thereof, and the walls
thereof, were also of wood” (Ezekiel 41:22), and it is written in
the continuation of that verse: “And he said unto me: This is the table that
is before the Lord.” The language of this verse is difficult, as it begins
with the altar and concludes with the table. Rather, Rabbi Yoḥanan and
Rabbi Elazar both say: As long as the Temple stood, the altar atoned for
Israel’s transgressions. Now that it is destroyed, a person’s
table atones for his transgressions. (Sefaria.org translation)
Here are some disturbing food facts. “Even in the world’s
greatest food-producing nation, children and adults face poverty and hunger in
every county across America.
*More than 38 million people are living in poverty in
America. In 2019, most families living in poverty earn less than $25,750 per
year.
*More than 37 million people struggle with hunger in the
United States, including more than 11 million children.
* A household that is food insecure has
limited or uncertain access to enough food to support a healthy life.
*Children are more
likely to face food insecurity than any other group in the United States.
*More than half (56%) of food-insecure households
participated in at least one of the major federal food assistance program — the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP,
formerly Food Stamps); the National
School Lunch Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants and Children (often called WIC)”
(https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/facts)
Since we don’t invite unknown hungry strangers into our
home for obvious reasons, let me suggest another method that your table can
lengthen your days. When I was sixth grade Hebrew school teacher the following is
a Tzedakkah project I learned from my friend Danny Siegel that I incorporated
into my class. He called this project “The Tzedakkah Habit”
“Rabbi Tanhum, though he needed only one portion of me
for himself, would buy two; one bunch of vegetables, he would buy two-one for
the poor and one for himself.” Midrash Kohelet
1. The purpose of this project is to buy an extra item
when you grocery shop, collect the items over a period of time and then bring
your collection to any food pantry you wish. Many synagogues and churches have
barrels set aside for such donations.
2. Please use the following categories as a guide for
your shopping. (So not to buy anything that requires refrigeration or can go
stale or spoiled.) It may be helpful to buy one item from each category and a
rotating basis in order to collect an assortment.
a. Staples
(such as noodles, rice, cereal, etc.)
b. Canned
goods (fruits, vegetables, tuna fish, etc.)
c. Beverages
(coffee, tea, juices etc.)
d. Personal
sundries (shampoo, toothpaste, bar soap, tampons, etc.)
e. Paper
goods (toilet paper, tissues, napkins, etc.)
f.
Household cleaning items (From Gym Shoes and Irises: Book Two, page 115)
Usually I only comment on one idea per daf, but today’s
daf has something so relevant I can’t pass it up. Since we are in the midst of
the primaries for the presidency of the United States I would like to share
with you something else Rabbi Yehudah taught.
“Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav: Three matters
require a plea for mercy to bring them about: A good king, a
good year, and a good dream. These three, kings, years, and dreams, are all
bestowed by God and one must pray that they should be positive and constructive.
The Gemara enumerates the sources for these cases: A good king, as it is
written: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord as the watercourses:
He turns it whithersoever He will” (Proverbs 21:1)” (Sefaria.org translation)
Go out and vote and pray that we elect a good president
in November 2020!
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