In this week’s Parsha the Torah commands us Ve’nishmartem me’od lenafshoseychem – to guard our health (Devarim 4:15). I saw from Rav Zelig Plisken shlita that the Chofetz Chaim explains that by the word lenafshoseychem, the Torah uses the term nefesh, which refers to the soul and does not say guard your body. This teaches us that whenever one is involved in matters pertaining to the welfare of his body, he must be very careful not to do anything harmful to his soul.
The Chofetz Chaim would constantly stress the importance of guarding one’s health. In his Yeshiva, he insisted that his students get enough sleep. He used to say at times the evil inclination will try to have someone study late into the night on a consistent basis so that he should weaken himself and become unable to learn Torah later on.
Let’s Remember that learning and pursuing Torah saves lives. One must know what one’s priorities are though (as we see from the previous episode). Perhaps this point that learning Torah saves lives can be illustrated with the following story: The Jewish community in Lita decided to establish a Jewish hospital, and a meeting was held for this purpose, held by the Chofetz Chaim. Several wealthy men attended this meeting, and each of them pledged significant donations of beds which were expensive and much needed at the time. The Chofetz Chaim showed much respect to the wealthy men for using their wealth for such noble purposes. Torah students also attended this meeting, and the Chofetz Chaim treated them with great respect. One of the wealthy men became angry at this, and said, “Is this right? We are the ones donating money, and the students also receive honor?” The man asked the Chofetz Chaim, “How many beds did the students donate?”
The Chofetz Chaim answered, “Each student gave fifty beds!” The wealthy man was astounded and asked, “How did they give fifty beds? We, with all our wealth, donated only ten beds at most, and they gave fifty?” The Chofetz Chaim repeated his answer, and said, “Each student gave fifty beds which will not be needed. Each student donates to the prevention of fifty sick people! They donate the beds which will not be needed in the hospital! Torah saves Sickness!
Now back to guarding one’s health: During a certain period, Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l, was experiencing difficulty breathing. The doctor advised Rav Chaim to take walks along the seashore, as the air there would be beneficial for his health. Once while walking Rav Chaim noticed several runners, and he commented …אֲנוּ רָצִים וְהֵם רָצִים we run and they run, but we will be rewarded for our running.” Taking care of one’s health is a huge Mitzvah. Rav Chaim was saying that was getting rewarded for his walking because he was fulfilling the mitzvah of guarding one’s health.
In Sefer Otzar Hatorah (Torah Treasury) it says that although the soul is the primary element in the composite being that is man, one must still care for his bodily needs. The Chofetz Chaim offers an example of a wagoner and his horse. The wagoner pays heed to the welfare of his horse because the horse is his key to livelihood. Similarly, says the Chofetz Chaim, it is only through the medium of the body that the soul can fulfill its earthly purpose; therefore, a person must be careful not to endanger or weaken his body.