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Health & Fitness

Just One More!

Dear Eli,

“Just one more.”

Just one more cookie/sandwich/episode/snooze/round/spin.

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How many diets have failed because of “just one more”? How many portfolios have collapsed because of “just one more”?

Why are we born with this self-destructive impulse to always take “just one more” step than we know is wise?

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***

The body is satiable, while the soul is insatiable. The body relates to the finite, hence “all things must come to an end.” The soul relates to the infinite and thus, there is no end to see.

For that reason, the body can be satisfied. Eat enough, and hunger goes away. Sleep enough, and weariness goes away. Earn enough, and need goes away.

Contrast that to the soul, which craves only goodness and sanctity, and can never, ever get enough. It is a truly infinite, insatiable craving.

Thus, a healthy person feels like this:

His appetite for physical pleasures is easily satisfied and quieted. When he has had enough, he stops. And his appetite for spiritual achievement is never satisfied and never stilled. He can never get enough, and he is never content.

But should it occur that a person confuses his body and his soul, he might feel like this:

His appetite for material pleasure is endless and insatiable; he can never get enough and he always needs “just one more.” But his appetite for spiritual pleasure is easily satisfied and quickly quieted. Even a small spiritual experience silences his spiritual hunger.

In Yiddish we call such a person “tzumisht.” Confused.

And the healthy person? That we call a mentsh.

So eat gezunterheit, sleep gezunterheit, and work gezunterheit. And know when to stop. That’s how it will be gezunterheit.

But when it comes to Judaism and specifically to Mitzvahs, let's say it together: “Just one more.”

***

And now we understand why on the Shabbats that we reach the end of one of the Five Books of Moses, the celebration motto is "Chazak Chazak Vnitchazek!" Those words mean "Be strong, be strong, and we will be strong."

When we reach a milestone, the finite body relaxes and says, "Ahh, mission accomplished." And the infinite soul cries out, "Be strong! Be strong! We're dealing with the infinite, don't stop growin!"

And then "we" - the soul and the body - "will be strong." 

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