Proper Eating

by Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook

I am very confused in regard to matters of my eating. I experience a great struggle within me in this matter.

I would very much like to fast, and to fast properly—and at the least to eat very little. But on the other hand I must, both from the aspect of health and from the aspect of holy tendencies—which are hidden within my depths and which can be great lights, matters through which all the great people of the world would rise to high elevations. From the aspect of all these, I need to eat properly, and sometimes even a great deal.

And because of my digestive problems, eating is difficult for me, and because of the scattered spirit that I usually suffer from, it is difficult for me to reach a decision as regard to the [proper] arrangement for eating, and [to reach] a completely settled state of mind that is necessary for the holiness of supernal wisdom [and] that is needed in order to be able to eat with the holiness of truth that is proper for the purity of the soul, so as to raise the will to beautify and elevate the holiness of Hashem in His world.

And if this was difficult for me in the land of Israel, how more difficult it is outside of the land.

But nevertheless, I hope for supernal kindness, so that everything will be renewed for good, for a great light, for eternal beauty, for blessing and salvation, for the light of Torah and the flame of mitzvah. And in the paths of righteousness may the Rock of our salvation lead me; may He beautify the impoverished with salvation. “And You are with the oppressed and the lowly of spirit,” “and You save the impoverished nation.”

Chadarav, pp. 150-151