Good advice and some bad advice TB Eruvin 55-56

This coming Saturday night and Sunday we shall observe the holiday of Simkhat Torah. We conclude the book of Deuteronomy with chapter 34 and immediately begin the cycle of Torah readings all over again by reading the first chapter of the book of Genesis. Now is an excellent opportunity to set aside time each week to study the weekly Torah portion. You might think this is a daunting task, but the daf TB Eruvin 55 encourages us and gives us good advice.

“And this idea, that one must exert great effort to retain one’s Torah knowledge, is in accordance with what Avdimi bar Ḥama bar Dosa said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “It is not in heaven…nor is it beyond the sea” (Deuteronomy 30:12–13)? “It is not in heaven” indicates that if it were in heaven, you would have to ascend after it, and if it were beyond the sea, you would have to cross after it, as one must expend whatever effort is necessary in order to study Torah.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Studying Torah has never been easier. There are so many excellent books in English that can guide your study. Some of my one volume favorites are The Jewish Study Bible, Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, The Chumash, the Stone Edition, The Five Books of Moses translated and commented upon by Robert Alter. Of course there are many web sites on the weekly Torah portion. All you have to do is search and find those that speak to you.

The next Gemara on TB Eruvin 56 begins with good advice, but contradicts it with bad advice. “Having mentioned various places of residence, the Gemara cites what Rav Huna said: Any city that does not have vegetables, a Torah scholar is not permitted to dwell there for health reasons. The Gemara asks: Is that to say that vegetables are beneficial to a person’s health? Wasn’t it taught in a baraita: Three things increase one’s waste, bend his stature, and remove one five-hundredth of the light of a person’s eyes; and they are coarse bread, made from coarse flour that has not been thoroughly sifted, new beer, and vegetables. This indicates that vegetables are harmful to one’s well-being. The Gemara answers: This is not difficult. This statement of Rav Huna is referring to garlic and leeks, which are beneficial; that baraita is referring to other vegetables, which are harmful. As it was taught in a baraita: Garlic is a healthy vegetable; leeks are a half-vegetable, meaning they are half as healthful. If radish has been seen, an elixir of life has been seen, as it is very beneficial to the body.

“The Gemara asks: Wasn’t it taught in a different baraita: If radish has been seen, a lethal drug has been seen? The Gemara answers: This is not difficult. Here, in the baraita that deprecates radish, it is referring to its leaves; there, in the baraita that praises radish, it is referring to the roots. Alternatively, here it is referring to the summer, when radish is beneficial; there, it is referring to the winter, when it is harmful.” (Sefaria.org translation)

I don’t know why the rabbis were averse to vegetables. A variety of fruits and vegetables is a crucial component of good health. The recommended amount for adults is 2 ½ cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit per day. In the most recent Consumer Reports, October 2020, the cover article analyzes fruits and vegetables using five years of data from the Department of Agriculture from tests on fruits and vegetables to detect about 450 different pesticides. In some cases those levels exceed what Consumer Reports experts consider safe.

Here is just a brief synopsis. These are the United States grown nonorganic vegetables that are excellent to have more than 10 servings a day. Broccoli, cabbage, carrots, corn, onions, peas, and scallions. These are the United States grown organic vegetables that are excellent (and I recommend them over nonorganic produce). Lettuce, summer squash, celery, kale, green beans, potatoes. Unfortunately spinach both nonorganic and organic grown in United States earns a poor rating. Although imported organic spinach’s rating is excellent.

These are the fruits that are United States grown nonorganic that earn an excellent rating. Cranberries, grapefruit, oranges, and prunes. Applesauce, grapes, and mangoes earn a very good rating. Cherries and peaches earn a poor rating. These are the fruits there United States grown organically there are excellent plums, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, pears, and frozen cherries.

I highly recommend you read the entire article and check out their entire list of fruits and vegetables with the recommendations.