Re’eh

R abbi Abraham Twerski puts for the proposition:

That the comment that we usually find when we discuss this Parshat [“See, I am placing before you this day a blessing and a curse.”] can, and should be, directly applied to our observance of kashrut. [along with other observances...]

He says that, according to halachah, if a person hires himself out for a day’s work and does not specify that he wished to have time off for prayer, that he must (only) say the abridged Amidah, since he may not take time off from his work for the full prayer. People who have committed themselves to work may not take time off for anything other than meals - unless it has ben stipulated otherwise.

What he is addressing is that every human has a commitment to do the Divine Will and that we are in essence servants hired out, if you will, to HaShem and thus we are obligated to do His bidding. Therefore we have no right to spend our time in any activity which is other than that which is of Divine decree.

In order to observe those decrees, if follows that we must have good health [both physical and mental] and that which enhances good health is - by logic - an obligation. We need time to eat, to sleep, to exercise, to rest and have some relaxation and diversions... as long as we are keeping our bodies and minds in optimum shape for the participation in the Divine service.

IF we were to indulge in worldly pleasures beyond those that are necessary for good health, we are ‘taking unauthorized leave, according to our “contract”, as Divine servants and so, obviously, this is prohibited. EVEN IF THE ACTIVITY is a ‘permitted’ activity, but; involves our over indulgence in (say) kosher ice cream. We have gone beyond that which is a nutritional requirement for our daily consumption. Even kosher food that is not necessary because our nutritional needs have been met become, in fact, non-kosher.

Mussar, for one, stresses this point and says that Divine service is not restricted to prayer, study of Torah and the performance of mitzvot. We need to see and acknowledge HaShem is all of our ways in life: in our business dealings, with discussions with friends, in our avoidance of Lashon Hora, in our family relationships, our eating and sleeping and in our recreation.

So Rabbi Twerski posits that as we read, “See, I am placing before you this day a blessing and a curse.” that we cannot find not grey areas - only black and white. That which is forbidden is: forbidden. If follows then, he says, that we have - only - two categories of behavior. That which is required and that which is forbidden.

Rabbi says that “permissibility” does not exist. I would say further; “I am entitled.” is not a permissible concept - let alone a verbalized comment. It goes way beyond social acceptability. It is obviously heresy, which makes it unsuitable in any aspect of human endeavor, being an insult to your fellow as well as a denial of G-d.

Shabbat Shalom.