What's For Lunch?
"23 1/2 Hour Emergency Service." That's the actual name of the company that provides clean-up and relief to families who suffered from a fire in their home. How do I know? Because our neighbors had a fire last week. Thank G-d, everyone is safe, but their driveway is housing trucks emblazoned with the words "23 1/2 Hour Emergency Service."
Curious to know which half-hour they were closed for business, I asked the crew. "During our half-hour lunch break," they replied. "Which half-hour of the day is that?" I asked. "Whenever the foreman says that we can break for lunch."
After I finished marveling at this brilliant, attention-grabbing marketing tactic, I had two distinct reactions:
Number one: Boy, they take their lunch a little too seriously. Imagine, a family suffers a devastating loss, this company is willing to help them and graciously field calls at 1:00 AM. But call them at 1:00 PM, during lunch and they're not available. Talk about living to eat.
Number two: We all take our mealtime pretty seriously. Even if we eat to live. After all, what's on our minds front-and-center when mealtime approaches and our tummies are grumbling? Food! What are we consumed by on a fast day? Food, of course. Food is a source of nourishment, pleasure and comfort. Food is a trillion-dollar industry. "Sharing a meal together makes people's hearts feel connected" (Talmud). Think Shabbat dinners, Rosh Hashanah meals, Passover Seders, and Thanksgiving.
In one of his famous Psalms, King David expresses his gratitude to G-d for some of the most profound and momentous occasions: creation of the world, the exodus from Egypt. And then, unexpectedly, for providing us with food. If we play the "odd man out" game, the food one hardly seems on par with the other monumental events King David describes.
But in truth it's not that odd. Food provides a tremendous opportunity to express gratitude to G-d. The mitzvah to recite a blessing before and after we eat is meant to be a meditative experience of gratitude. Think of the miracle of salivating, chewing, swallowing and digesting; of how eating encompasses all five of our senses. The sizzle, the aroma, the different ingredients, textures and tastes. Consider what a gift it is that the food tastes so delicious. G-d could have made all food nutritious, but bland and tasteless!
Want to learn more about the relationship between Judaism and food? Come and join us to hear our world-renowned guest speaker this Shabbat afternoon at Green Road Synagogue at 12:30. Of course, Kiddush is served beforehand, at noon!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Koval
