Nurturing Health: Jewish Wisdom for Daily Life

1. Cold and Heat
Our Sages teach in Ketubot (30a): “Everything is in the hands of Heaven, except cold and heat.” This means most events, good and bad are guided by Hashem, but illness from extreme temperatures is often our responsibility. So layer up in the winter and stay cool in summer to protect yourself.

2. Morning Bread (Lechem Boker)
Be sure to eat bread in the morning and wash, say birkat hamazon (Grace After Meals), and not skip from laziness. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef made this a daily habit. The Talmud (Bava Kamma 92b, Bava Metzia 107b) says morning bread prevents 83 ailments, brings wisdom, kindness, Torah growth, and more. The Tur (Orach Chaim 155) encourages turning it into a daily mitzvah and helping both body and soul for serving Hashem.

3. Don’t Overdo Fasting
The Talmud (Taanit 22b) warns fasting without need isn’t proper, “Man became a living soul” (Bereishit 2:7). If you're teaching Torah or working, fasting can weaken your ability. Only fast for serious reasons like Rosh Chodesh prep or yartzeit (anniversary of a loved one’s passing), and only if physically up to it.

4. Don’t Delay Bathroom Needs
The Torah says “Do not defile yourselves” (Vayikra 11:43), which the Sages apply to delaying nature’s call. Rambam warns it harms health and soul; Meiri adds it attracts impurity. If constipated: walk a bit and sit, repeat several times and eat dates or prunes.

5. Avoid Cursing
Saying “Do not curse the deaf” (Vayikra 19:14) teaches us to guard speech. The Book of Middot says curses can harm others even without contact. Speaking negative words about yourself is also forbidden (“Take heed to your soul,” Devarim 4:9).

6. No Smoking
Modern medical consensus shows smoking is deadly for you and others. Jewish law (“Ve’nishmartem me’od l’nafshoteichem,” Devarim 4:15) mandates protecting our health. The Chafetz Chaim ruled smokers violate this verse and must refrain.

7. Avoid Unnecessary Stress
We naturally encounter challenges but focusing on unnecessary worries, like dark films or headlines, weakens us. Chazal teach “All worries are prohibited except worrying about not worrying” meaning true trust (bitachon) in Hashem brings calm. As we say after meals: “He has done good, does good, and will do good.”

Rabbeinu Bachya (Chovot HaLevavot) teaches that trust brings peace of mind, knowing our Creator watches over us.