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Book Title Bringing Heaven Down to Earth
Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson
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92. With the Body

Fasting and punishing the body is not a path for our generation. Not only because most of us are too fragile to weaken our bodies any more. Not only because the faintness of hunger can interfere with your ability to do good in the world.

But principally because now has come the time to lead a spiritual life with the body rather than against it.

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Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.

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Latest Comments:
Posted: Oct 26, 2010
Some responses
Several have asked what has changed. For one thing, people are not as strong as they once were. For another, they are not as selfless. At one time, people would fast and become more enlightened, humble souls. Today, they become "holy rollers" deluded and obsessed with their own spirituality.

But the main point, as the Rebbe often pointed out, is that the mandate of our times, being so close to the times of the Moshiach, is to work with the body, not against it, to bring the soul, mind and body into harmony and elevate all to a higher, harmonized state--a foretaste of the state of our bodies in the time to come.

For those who have asked about established fast days, this was answered in one of my comments above.
Posted By Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

Posted: Oct 26, 2010
With the body (Daily Dose)
Rabbi: In the light of your message, what about Yom Kippur and otherHoly fast Days?
Posted By Ronald Steers, México, D:F:, México

Posted: Oct 26, 2010
Fasting
What has changed? Why is fasting no longer good? Why was it once good?
Posted By Hazel Gilliland, Newtownards, N Ireland

Posted: Oct 25, 2010
Unity
Great! Very deep! I guess the word is unity. No more classifications nor any kind of taxonomy for man. Human being is single, unique and one. Excellent message!
Posted By José Flávio Nogueira Guimarães, Belo Horizonte, MG/Brazil

Posted: Oct 24, 2010
i like it
let's give credit to our body who enables us to do mitzvoth
Posted By Anonymous

Posted: Oct 21, 2010
Fasting on Yom Kippur...
...was obviously not included in this statement. Nevertheless, we should take care to feed the body properly before and after, and especially to drink as much as possible the day before.

Yom Kippur is meant to be a day of such rapture, your body doesn't even notice the missed meals.
Posted By Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

Posted: Oct 21, 2010
im confused
i thought that this was a long lasting tradition and i am wondering if this is not a suggestive association with political correctness and how rude it may be for someone to fast when others on the planet do not have a significant food source to provide and what some may take for granted. a so called slap in the face of those who are literally starving in other countries. the problem is that this is EVEN MORE of a reason to fast. to honor and cleanse ourselves. after fasting one may feel an inclination to donate food to those who are without food and are hungry. fasting can remind us how we are blessed instead of the political correctness of the collective salvation approach. unless there is more to this quotation that i am missing or completely misguided which could be as i am not a perfect soul but am working on it.
Posted By john smith, fort lauderdale, fl

Posted: Oct 21, 2010
Heaven & Earth
You continue to amaze me with your broad scope and insights. This is the lesson of Chanoch - Enoch. Would like to have lots more dialogue about this...
Chanoch
Posted By Chanoch Brown, Miami Beach, FL

Posted: Oct 21, 2010
food
As you grow older , you are better off thin than obese. Don't starve yourself, but try to make it a goal to eat healthy portions. I think Maimonides is the physician who said "Only eat when you are hungry". I heard another good one: The HAM diet - half a meal.

That said i struggle with weight/food. Eating at night is such a diet killer! And yes i exercise. Any diet success stories out there?
Posted By Anonymous

Posted: Oct 21, 2010
Thank you...
Great It got to me. I've received the confirmation of a revelation I had about not punishing body to become more spiritual. The question is how about the desires of the body that goes against the commandments?
Posted By Niurka, Bronx, NY



 


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Mockery
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Animal Taming
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The Choice
Between Hope & Trust
Celebrate

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