Controversial Words Regarding Lakewood Restaurants and the Sanctity of Acting Akin to Hashem.

Is it possible that a town's spiritual compass can be measured by its culinary landscape? Lakewood, New Jersey, a city renowned for its adherence to Jewish principles, is witnessing a boom in kosher dining options, with 16 new establishments opening their doors in just three months. This episode invites you to a table where the menu offers more than just food; it serves up a feast of ideas on the intersection of indulgence and spirituality. Prepare your palate for a discussion as rich and varied as the cuisines now available in Lakewood. We're not just talking about food; we're talking about the very sustenance of our souls. You'll leave with a nourishing thought to chew on: the quality of one's Torah study may be more connected to their dining table than previously thought. Whether you're a gourmet or a gourmand, this conversation promises to add a new flavor to your spiritual journey.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Think about this for a second. Within the 10-mile radius of my home here in Lakewood, new Jersey, 16 kosher restaurants have opened up over the past three months. Fast food par of no matter the type or the seasoning of the delicacy that you wish for, here in Lakewood and its surrounding suburbs we have it all. It's the full package, all you can eat buffet. And well, can't help but kind of revert back to what we're supposed to be learning about in Parshas Kedoshim of Kedoshim Tihu. Do not be someone that indulges so greatly in the physical pleasures of the world inside of the realm of Torah. Don't be a sordid novel-bearer of Shasah Torah. So we can't help but think whoa, 16 restaurants that's only adding to the list and the ever-growing food delicacies that we can indulge in. I can't help but think that maybe we are off course.

Speaker 1: 1:14

So I spoke to somebody really holy about this let's stir up some controversy and I asked him. I said you know, I've always heard Musser schmoozing from you about intense topics. I remember once when you gave a Musser schmoozing from you about intense topics. Remember once when you gave a Musser schmooze six years ago about kettle corn popcorn and how people want even more. And now there's confetti, corn, popcorn, and once you gave a Musser schmooze about all the different types of wine and how indulgent people are. But I haven't heard anything from you, great rabbi, great wise person, about the current state of the physical pleasures that are accessible here, and he said something brilliant. He said, michal, you know what is Kedusha? What is holiness? Well, I think it means to be set aside, havdalah. It's Kedusha, to be set aside from this world for the sake of higher purposes. He said yes, and how do you define that? What do you do? He said it's very clear.

Speaker 1: 2:10

The Chovah Zalavavah tells us that we are supposed to be taking from the world only that, what we need in order to do God's will. And in this generation we need a lot more in order to get our jobs done. That's why I don't speak about indulging in food, because when previous generations, maybe, we only needed less and bread and some salt. But in this generation, in order for somebody to learn with his energy and dive in with the Gansha Ganskite and be there for his family and do all the mitzvahs, maybe he needs a little bit more Gashmias. I'm interested in your thoughts about this. But kedushah is to take from this world that which we need in order so that we can do kedushah at our levels, each moving up slowly to do what is required of us, and sometimes that takes some good eating. I once heard a sharp line we'll finish with this that somebody who eats like a yid studies Torah like a Gentile, but he who fresses like a Gentile will end up actually having the energy to learn like a yid. Think about that.