Say No to Schnitzel, Say Yes to Greatness

The Rambam teaches us that true strength comes from self-control, especially at the dinner table. When we make healthy food choices and resist unhealthy temptations, we earn the prestigious title of "Gibor" (strong person).

• Rambam's laws in Mishneh Torah identify certain unhealthy foods to avoid
• A wise person restrains themselves and doesn't eat simply to satisfy cravings
• Choosing healthy foods over unhealthy options earns you the title "Gibor"
• Self-control is considered a "davartella" (wondrous act) in Jewish tradition
• Reb Yerucham honored a man who lost weight as showing extraordinary discipline
• Making good food choices forms the foundation of Jewish self-discipline

Think twice before ordering that triple-fried schnitzel and choose to live with self-control. Choose to be called a gibor by simply eating healthy.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Rambam's Teaching
• 0:26 Unhealthy Foods to Avoid
• 0:58 Rambam on Jewish Eating Habits
• 1:37 Self-Control Earns Title of Gibor
• 3:03 Reb Yerucham's Lesson on Self-Control

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Listen to this Rambam what a Pella. Listen to how you can earn the appellation the highly sought after appellation, of Ghibor to your name. Listen to how you can be knighted, crowned a strong and self-controlled person by doing this one thing Zokta Rambam v'yesh v'achol shem roim. The Rambam is going to be found in the laws of human dispositions. There are foods in this world that are evil, that are unhealthy. For example, bread roasted in oil, kneaded in oil, water fowl, young pigeons, all these different fish, brine and pickled fish oil. Rambam says curtail your eating habits when it comes to a big plate of pickled fish oil, don't eat too much. But listen to the Rambam's words here Mishneh Torah talking about how a Jew should eat. But listen to the Rambam's words here Mishneh Torah, parak Dalet Halacha Yod talking about how a Jew should eat. V'adam shehu chacham v'ko v'sheshi yitzro, a man who is wise and grabs back the reins on his life and eats healthy. He overcomes his yitzharah v'lo y'mashich achar ta'avah. So he doesn't just eat to his heart's content. V just eat to his heart's content. You don't eat these unhealthy foods at all unless you need them. You need it because it brings for a health concern or will aid you in some health matter If you only eat foods part of the healthy diet and eat it as directed.

Speaker 1: 1:44

This person is knighted and crowned a strong person that unbelievable title that goes onto the front of your name that this person has self-control. He's a strong person. How do you get it? By proper eating habits. An unbelievable chedesh. Every time that you pick up your fork and knife and pull up your chair to the dinner table and tie the napkin, the handkerchief, around your neck and begin to eat and drink, eat it properly and choose to consume the healthy, right foods. Because you went for the broccoli and the turnip instead of the triple fried pastrami schnitzel on a baguette.

Speaker 1: 2:24

Gibor Nikra, you're called a strong person and this is not just a talk to make one feel the understand the importance of healthy eating. Well, that obviously is important, but more so you see how much Chazal look up to and laud a person who has self-control. Look up to and laud a person who has self-control. Being able to say no to yourself is a davartella, is a wondrous act, and anyone who is human knows how hard it is to say no to things when they are enticing. But Chazal knows that when you say no to a food you choose to eat, healthy or call a gipur, you've done something wondrous. In one story, reb Yerucham is told to have stood up for a person that came back after one vacation and he was previously obese and now he had lost weight. Reb Yerucham stood up for him because that person has such unbelievable self-control and that forms the very basis of our Judaism. So think twice before you order the triple fried schnitzel and choose to live with self-control. Choose to be called a gibor by simply eating healthy. Thank you,