31 Jan SPEAK YOUR VIEWS

FOODIE

Dear Editor:

On occasion, I read a frum weekly newspaper or magazine & cannot believe that a frum writer would describe themselves as a Foodie.( I don’t remember who the writer was or the publication)

Let’s see Wikipedia’s definition of a foodie: “A foodie is a person who has an ardent or refined interest in food and alcoholic beverages.[1] A foodie seeks new food experiences as a hobby rather than simply eating out of convenience or hunger. The terms “gastronome”, “gourmand” and “epicure” define the same thing, i.e. a person who enjoys food for pleasure.”

This definition sounds very close to what the Mussar seforim call a “Baal Taavah”. Food is not eaten for sustenance or wellbeing; it is just for the pursuit of pleasure alone.

Can an Ehrlicher Yid be a Foodie?

Yitzchok K

Editor’s Note: I think according to Shulchan Aruch you could be a foodie. It definitely is not the proper thing from a hashkafic perspective.

TU B’SHVAT FRUITS

Dear Editor:

Thanks to the “Pomegranate culture” that we now live in….. Has anyone seen these fruits available for Tu Bishvat? Like 75 dollar fruits? Are they serious? What in heavens name is wrong with people? It’s out of control. It must be stopped.

Once I’m talking about Tu Bishvat….anyone see the photos the posts every year from all this big Rebbishe Tish with massive fruit platters…..with watermelons and pineapples carved out all fancy? Uh…. did anyone tell them that those are not fruits and not a Borei Pri Haetz and have zero to do with Tu Bishvat?

Shimon D

Editor’s Note: Hey, don’t be a sourpuss and ruin a good party!

ONE GARMENT AT A TIME

Dear Editor:

I wanted to share with you some wisdom from Rabbi Miller.

Rav Avigdor Miller on The Wise Fool

Q: Someone mentioned to me that if a person puts on two garments at once it will cause him to forget his learning (see Mishna Berura 2:2). What does that mean?

A: We’ll explain it like this. Memory is a gift from Hakodosh Boruch Hu. And we know that Hakodosh Boruch Hu gives wisdom to wise men; like it says in the book of Daniel:  “He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who understand knowledge” (Daniel 2:21). Now, what does it mean, “He gives wisdom to the wise”? If they’re wise, they have it already?! No; “to the wise” doesn’t mean a man who is already full of wisdom. It means that if you’re a man withgood sense and good character – that’s wisdom! – then Hashem gives you more wisdom.

When a man behaves unwisely, Hakodosh Boruch Hu says, “I can’t make this man wise. I’m not going to allow My wisdom to dwell in a fool.” When a man puts on two garments at once, so what happens? One of the garments, the sleeve is hanging down inside the other one. When you put on two coats at once, at the same time, so the sleeve of the inside one, is hanging inside. Your hand is not in the sleeve and you look like a fool. You’re rushing, or whatever it is, and now you look like a fool. And Hashem is not going to help you be successful in your learning if you’re going to do foolish things. You’re not the type of person to whom He wants to give the wisdom of His Torah. And if Hashem is not helping you, then you’re going to forget your learning. That’s all.