Judaism, like the healthy personalities it seeks to foster, is not rigidly about one thing. Most principles in Judaism are about balancing a tension between important and conflicting values. How could something as important as Torah, or the human personality it is designed to develop, possibly be monolithic? If so, there would be no need for more than one human.

Judaism has ascetic and self-abnegating values, while at the same time discouraging excessive self-mortification and often encouraging measured enjoyment of life’s pleasures such as on Shabbos and Yom Tov. In eulogizing Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, the Gemara tells us:

ื‘ึผึดืฉืึฐืขึทืช ืคึผึฐื˜ึดื™ืจึธืชื•ึน ืฉืึถืœ ืจึทื‘ึผึดื™ ื–ึธืงึทืฃ ืขึถืฉื‚ึถืจ ืึถืฆึฐื‘ึผึฐืขื•ึนืชึธื™ื• ื›ึผึฐืœึทืคึผึตื™ ืžึทืขึฐืœึธื”, ืึฒืžึทืจ: ืจึดื‘ึผื•ึนื ื•ึน ืฉืึถืœ ืขื•ึนืœึธื! ื’ึผึธืœื•ึผื™ ื•ึฐื™ึธื“ื•ึผืขึท ืœึฐืคึธื ึถื™ืšึธ ืฉืึถื™ึผึธื’ึทืขึฐืชึผึดื™ ื‘ึผึฐืขึถืฉื‚ึถืจ ืึถืฆึฐื‘ึผึฐืขื•ึนืชึทื™ ื‘ึผึทืชึผื•ึนืจึธื”, ื•ึฐืœึนื ื ึถื”ึฑื ึตื™ืชึดื™ ืึฒืคึดื™ืœึผื•ึผ ื‘ึผึฐืึถืฆึฐื‘ึผึทืข ืงึฐื˜ึทื ึผึธื”

At the time of the death of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, he raised his ten fingers toward Heaven and said in prayer: Master of the Universe, it is revealed and known before You that I toiled with my ten fingers in the Torah, and I have not derived any benefit from the world even with my small finger. 

Of course it stretches credibility to take this literally, yet one’s deathbed seems to be a bad time to exaggerate, so perhaps we should. The rational part of me says, what Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi meant is that as he was enjoying this world, he always had in mind that he was serving God too. I do recall from my youth hearing a Shmooze from Rabbi Avigdor Miller where he said, “I assure you that even Moshe Rabbenu had to enjoy a sandwich. If he did not desire to eat, he would not salivate. Without salivating, the food would go down to his stomach Like a rock and he would not be able to digest it. Notice that Rav Miller did not engage in torturous apologetics such as arguing that Moshe was able to miraculously digest the food without actually desiring it. Regardless of what we say about Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi’s experience of worldly pleasures, the Rambam in chapter five of Shemoneh Perakim discusses this matter so well that I must paste here the entire piece, because it is simply too precious and too golden to leave out even one word. It is Judaism, and in fact, psychologically and physically healthy living in a nutshell:

ืฆืจื™ืš ืœืื“ื ืฉื™ืขื‘ื™ื“ ื›ื—ื•ืช ื ืคืฉื• ื›ืœื ืœืคื™ ื”ื“ืขืช ื›ืคื™ ืžื” ืฉื”ืงื“ืžื ื• ื‘ืคืจืง ืืฉืจ ืœืคื ื™ ื–ื”, ื•ื™ืฉื™ื ืœื ื’ื“ ืขื™ื ื™ื• ืชืžื™ื“ ืชื›ืœื™ืช ืื—ืช, ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ืฉื’ืช ื”ืฉื ื™ืช' ื›ืคื™ ื™ื›ื•ืœืช ื”ืื“ื ืจ"ืœ ืœื“ืขืช ืื•ืชื•, ื•ื™ืฉื™ื ืคืขื•ืœื•ืชื™ื• ื›ื•ืœื ืชื ื•ืขื•ืชื™ื• ื•ืžื ื•ื—ื•ืชื™ื• ื•ื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจื™ื• ืžื‘ื™ืื™ื ืœื–ืืช ื”ืชื›ืœื™ืช, ืขื“ ืฉืœื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืคืขื•ืœื•ืชื™ื• ื“ื‘ืจ ืžืคื•ืขืœ ื”ื”ื‘ืœ, ืจ"ืœ ืคื•ืขืœ ืฉืœื ื™ื‘ื™ื ืืœ ื–ืืช ื”ืชื›ืœื™ืช.

As we have explained in the preceding chapter, it is the duty of man to subordinate all the faculties of his soul to his reason. He must keep his mind's eye fixed constantly upon one goal, namely, the attainment of the knowledge of God (may He be blessed!), as far as it is possible for mortal man to know Him. Consequently, one must so adjust all his actions, his whole conduct, and even his very words, that they lead to this goal, in order that none of his deeds be aimless, and thus retard the attainment of that end.

ื•ื”ืžืฉืœ ื‘ื• ืฉื™ืฉื™ื ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื‘ืื›ื™ืœืชื•, ื•ืฉืชื™ื™ืชื•, ื•ืžืฉื’ืœื•, ื•ืฉื ืชื• ื•ื™ืงื™ืฆืชื•, ื•ืชื ื•ืขืชื•, ื•ืžื ื•ื—ืชื• ื‘ื‘ืจื™ืื•ืช ื’ื•ืคื• ืœื‘ื“, ื•ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื‘ื‘ืจื™ืื•ืช ื’ื•ืคื• ืฉืชืžืฆื ื”ื ืคืฉ ื›ืœื™ื” ื‘ืจื™ืื™ื ืฉืœืžื™ื ืœืงื ื•ืช ื‘ื—ื›ืžื•ืช ื•ืงื ื•ืช ืžืขืœื•ืช ื”ืžื“ื•ืช (ื•ืžืขืœื•ืช) ื”ืฉื›ืœื™ื•ืช ืขื“ ืฉื™ื’ื™ืข ืœืชื›ืœื™ืช ื”ื”ื™ื. ื•ืขืœ ื–ื” ื”ื”ืงืฉ ืœื ืชื”ื™ื” ืื– ื›ื•ื•ื ืชื• ืืœ ื”ื”ื ืื” ืœื‘ื“ ืขื“ ืฉื™ื‘ื—ืจ ืžืŸ ื”ืžื–ื•ืŸ ื•ื”ืžืฉืชื” ื”ืขืจื‘ ื•ื›ืŸ ื‘ืฉืืจ ื”ื”ื ื”ื’ื”, ืื‘ืœ ื™ื›ื•ื™ืŸ ืืœ ื”ืžื•ืขื™ืœ, ื•ื›ืฉื™ื–ื“ืžืŸ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืขืจื‘ ื™ื”ื™ื”, ื•ื›ืฉื™ื–ื“ืžืŸ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืœืชื™ ืขืจื‘ ื™ื”ื™ื”, ืื• ื™ื›ื•ื™ืŸ ืืœ ื”ืขืจื‘ ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื—ื›ืžืช ื”ืจืคื•ืื•ืช ื›ืžื™ ืฉื—ืœืฉื” ืชืื•ืชืชื• ืœืžืื›ืœ ื•ื™ืขื™ืจื”ื• ื‘ืžื–ื•ื ื•ืช ื”ืžืชื•ื‘ืœื•ืช ื”ืขืจื‘ื•ืช, ืฉื ืคืฉ ื”ืื“ื ืžืชืื•ื” ืœื”ื, ื•ื›ืŸ ืื ืชืชืขื•ืจืจ ืขืœื™ื• ืœื—ื” ืฉื—ื•ืจื” ื™ืกื™ืจื” ื‘ืฉืžื™ืขืช ื”ื ื™ื’ื•ื ื™ื ื•ื‘ืžื™ื ื™ ื–ืžืจ, ื•ื”ื˜ื™ื•ืœ ื‘ื’ื ื•ืช ื•ื”ื‘ื ื™ื ื™ื ื”ื ืื™ื, ื•ื—ื‘ืจืช ื”ืฆื•ืจื•ืช ื”ื™ืคื•ืช ื•ื›ื™ื•ืฆื ื‘ื–ื” ืžืžื” ืฉื™ืจื—ื™ื‘ ื”ื ืคืฉ ื•ื™ืกื•ืจ ื”ืžืจื” ื”ืฉื—ื•ืจื” ืžืžื ื”, ื•ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื‘ื›ืœ ื–ื” ืฉื™ื‘ืจื™ื ื’ื•ืคื•, ื•ืชื›ืœื™ืช ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื‘ื‘ืจื™ืื•ืช ื’ื•ืคื• ืœืงื ื•ืช ื—ื›ืžื”, ื•ื›ืŸ ื›ืฉื™ืชืขืกืง ื‘ืงื ื•ืช ื”ืžืžื•ืŸ ื™ื”ื™ื” ืชื›ืœื™ืช ื›ื•ื•ื ืชื• ื‘ืงื‘ื•ืฆื• ืฉื™ื•ืฆื™ืื”ื• ื‘ืžืขืœื•ืช, ื•ืฉื™ืžืฆืื”ื• ืœื—ื•ืฉื™ ื’ื•ืคื• ื•ืœื”ืžืฉื™ืš ืžืฆื™ืื•ืชื• ืขื“ ืฉื™ืฉื™ื’ ื•ื™ื“ืข ืžื”ืฉ"ื™ ืžื” ืฉืืคืฉืจ ืœื“ืขืชื•:

So, his only design in eating, drinking, cohabiting, sleeping, waking, moving about, and resting should be the preservation of bodily health, while, in turn, the reason for the latter is that the soul and its agencies may be in sound and perfect condition, so that he may readily acquire wisdom, and gain moral and intellectual virtues, all to the end that man may reach the highest goal of his endeavors. Accordingly, man will not direct his attention merely to obtain bodily enjoyment, choosing of food and drink and the other things of life only the agreeable, but he will seek out the most useful, being indifferent whether it be agreeable or not. 

There are, indeed, times when the agreeable may be used from a curative point of view, as, for instance, when one suffers from loss of appetite, it may be stirred up by highly seasoned delicacies and agreeable, palatable food. Similarly, one who suffers from melancholia may rid himself of it by listening to singing and all kinds of instrumental music, by strolling through beautiful gardens and splendid buildings, by gazing upon beautiful pictures, and other things that enliven the mind, and dissipate gloomy moods. The purpose of all this is to restore the healthful condition of the body, but the real object in maintaining the body in good health is to acquire wisdom. Likewise, in the pursuit of wealth, the main design in its acquisition should be to expend it for noble purposes, and to employ it for the maintenance of the body and the preservation of life, so that its owner may obtain a knowledge of God, in so far as that is vouchsafed unto man.

ื•ืขืœ ื–ื” ื”ื”ืงืฉ ื™ืฉ ืœืžืœืื›ืช ื”ืจืคื•ืื•ืช ืžื‘ื•ื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืื•ื“ ื‘ืžืขืœื•ืช ื•ื‘ื™ื“ื™ืขืช ื”ืฉื, ื•ื‘ื”ื’ื™ืข ืืœ ื”ื”ืฆืœื—ื” ื”ืืžื™ืชื™ืช ื•ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœืžื•ื“ื” ื•ื‘ืงืฉืชื” ืขื‘ื•ื“ื” ืžืŸ ื”ืขื‘ื•ื“ื•ืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื•ืช, ื•ืœื ืชื”ื™ื” ืื– ื›ืืจื™ื’ื” ื•ื”ื ื’ืจื•ืช, ื›ื™ ื‘ื” ื ืฉืขืจ ืคืขื•ืœืชื™ื ื• ื•ื™ืฉื•ื‘ื• ืคืขื•ืœื•ืช ืื ื•ืฉื™ื•ืช ืžื‘ื™ืื•ืช ืืœ ื”ืžืขืœื•ืช ื•ื”ืืžื™ืชื•ืช, ื›ื™ ื”ืื“ื ื›ืฉื™ื‘ื ื•ื™ืื›ืœ ืžื–ื•ืŸ ืขืจื‘ ืืœ ื”ื—ื™ืš ื˜ื•ื‘ ื”ืจื™ื— ืฉื ืคืฉ ืื“ื ืžืชืื•ื” ืœื• ื•ื”ื•ื ืžื–ื™ืง ื•ืืคืฉืจ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืกื‘ื” ืœื—ื•ืœื™ ืงืฉื” ืื• ืœืžื™ืชื•ืช ืคืชืื•ื, ื–ื” ื•ื‘ื”ืžื•ืช (ืืฆืœื™) ืฉื•ื™ื, ื•ืื™ืŸ ื–ื” ืคื•ืขืœ ื”ืื“ื ืžืืฉืจ ื”ื•ื ืื“ื, ืืžื ื ื”ื•ื ืคื•ืขืœ ืื“ื ืžืืฉืจ ื”ื•ื ื‘ืขืœ ื—ื™ื™ื ื ืžืฉืœ ื›ื‘ื”ืžื•ืช ื ื“ืžื•, ื•ืืžื ื ื™ื”ื™ื” ืคื•ืขืœ ืื ื•ืฉื™ ื›ืฉื™ืื›ืœ ื”ืžื•ืขื™ืœ ืœื‘ื“ ื•ืคืขืžื™ื ื™ื ื™ื— ื”ืขืจื‘ ื•ื™ืื›ืœ ื”ื ืžืืก ื›ืคื™ ื‘ืงืฉืช ื”ืžื•ืขื™ืœ ื•ื–ื” ืคื•ืขืœ ืœืคื™ ื”ื“ืขืช ื•ื‘ื–ื” ื ื‘ื“ืœ ื”ืื“ื ื‘ืคืขื•ืœื•ืชื™ื• ืžื–ื•ืœืชื•, ื•ื›ืŸ ื›ืฉื™ื‘ืขื•ืœ ื›ืฉื™ืชืื•ื” ืžื‘ืœืชื™ ืฉื™ืฉืžื•ืจ ื”ื ื–ืง ื•ื”ืชื•ืขืœืช, ื™ืฉ ืœื• ื–ื” ื”ืคื•ืขืœ ืžืืฉืจ ื”ื•ื ื‘ืขืœ ื—ื™ื™ื ืœื ืžืืฉืจ ื”ื•ื ืื“ื. ื•ืืคืฉืจ ืฉืชื”ื™ื” ื”ื ื”ื’ืชื• ื›ืœื” ืœืคื™ ื”ืžื•ืขื™ืœ, ื›ืžื• ืฉื–ื›ืจื ื•, ืืœื ืฉื™ืฉื™ื ืชื›ืœื™ืชื• ื‘ืจื™ืื•ืช ื’ื•ืคื• ื•ืฉืœืžื•ืชื• ืžืŸ ื”ื—ืœื™ื ืœื‘ื“, ื•ืื™ืŸ ื–ื” ื—ืกื™ื“, ื›ื™ ื›ืžื• ืฉื‘ื—ืจ ื–ื” ื”ื ืืช ื”ื‘ืจื™ืื•ืช, ื‘ื—ืจ ื–ื” ื”ืื—ืจ ื”ื ืืช ื”ืžืื›ืœ ืื• ื”ื ืืช ื”ืžืฉื’ืœ ื•ื›ื•ืœื ืื™ืŸ ืชื›ืœื™ืช ืืžืชื™ืช ืœืคืขื•ืœืชื”, ืื‘ืœ ื”ื ื›ื•ืŸ ืฉื™ืฉื™ื ืชื›ืœื™ืช ื›ืœ ืžื” ืฉื™ืชืขืกืง ื‘ื• ื‘ืจื™ืื•ืช ื’ื•ืคื• ื•ื”ืžืฉืš ืžืฆื™ืืชื• ืขืœ ื”ืฉืœื™ืžื•ืช ื›ื“ื™ ืฉื™ืฉืืจื• ื›ืœื™ ื›ื—ื•ืช ื”ื ืคืฉ ืืฉืจ ื”ื ืื‘ืจื™ ื”ื’ื•ืฃ ืฉืœืžื™ื, ื•ืชืชืขืกืง ื ืคืฉื• ืžื‘ืœืชื™ ืžื•ื ืข ื‘ืžืขืœื•ืช ื”ืžื“ื•ืช ื•ื‘ืžืขืœื•ืช ื”ืฉื›ืœื™ื•ืช, ื•ื›ืŸ ื›ืœ ืžื” ืฉื™ืœืžื“ื”ื• ืžืŸ ื”ื—ื›ืžื•ืช ื•ืžืŸ ื”ื“ืขื•ืช.

From this point of view, the study of medicine has a very great influence upon the acquisition of the virtues and of the knowledge of God, as well as upon the attainment of true, spiritual happiness. Therefore, its study and acquisition are preeminently important religious activities, and must not be ranked in the same class with the art of weaving, or the science of architecture, for by it one learns to weigh one's deeds, and thereby human activities are rendered true virtues. The man who insists upon indulging in savory, sweet smelling and palatable food although it be injurious, and possibly may lead to serious illness or sudden death ought, in my opinion, to be classed with the beasts. His conduct is not that of a man in so far as he is a being endowed with understanding, but it is rather the action of a man in so far as he is a member of the animal kingdom, and so (Psalms 49:21) "he is like the beasts who perish". Man acts like a human being only when he eats that which is wholesome, at times avoiding the agreeable, and partaking of the disagreeable in his search for the beneficial. Such conduct is in accordance with the dictates of reason, and by these acts man is distinguished from all other beings. Similarly, if a man satisfy his sexual passions whenever he has the desire, regardless of good or ill effects, he acts as a brute, and not as a man. It is possible, however, for one to shape one's conduct entirely from the point of view of utility, as we have stated, with no aim beyond that of maintaining the health of the body, or guarding against disease. Such a one does not deserve to be called virtuous, for, just as he strives for the enjoyment of good health, another like him may have as his aim the gratification of eating, or of sexual intercourse, none of which actions leads towards the true goal. The real duty of man is, that in adopting whatever measures he may for his well-being and the preservation of his existence in good health, he should do so with the object of maintaining a perfect condition of the instruments of the soul, which are the limbs of the body, so that his soul may be unhampered, and he may busy himself in acquiring the moral and mental virtues. So it is with all the sciences and knowledge man may learn.

ืžื” ืฉื”ื•ื ืžื”ืŸ ื“ืจืš ืœืชื›ืœื™ืช ื”ื”ื™ื, ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื• ื“ื™ืŸ ื•ื“ื‘ืจื™ื, ื•ืžื” ืฉืื™ืŸ ืชื•ืขืœืช ืœื• ื‘ืชื›ืœื™ืช ื”ื”ื™ื ื›ืฉืืœื•ืช ื”ื—ืฉื‘ื•ืŸ, ื•ืกืคืจ ื”ื—ืจื•ื˜ื™ื, ื•ื”ืชื—ื‘ื•ืœื•ืช, ื•ืœื”ืจื‘ื•ืช ืžืฉืืœื•ืช ื•ืœื”ื ื“ืกื”, ื•ืžืฉื™ื›ืช ื”ืžืฉืงืœื™ื ื•ื”ืจื‘ื” ื›ื™ื•ืฆื ื‘ืืœื• ื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื‘ื”ื ืœื—ื“ื“ ื”ืฉื›ืœ, ื•ื”ืจื’ืœ ื”ื›ื— ื”ืฉื›ืœื™ ื‘ื“ืจื›ื™ ื•ื”ืžื•ืคืช ืขื“ ืฉื™ื’ื™ืข ืœืื“ื ืงื ื™ืŸ ื™ื“ื™ืขืช ื”ื”ืงืฉ ื”ืžื•ืคืชื™ ืžื–ื•ืœืชื•, ื•ื™ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ื–ื” ื“ืจืš ืฉื™ื’ื™ืข ื‘ื” ืœื™ื“ื™ืขืช ืืžื™ืชืช ืžืฆื™ืื•ืช ื”ืฉื

Concerning those which lead directly to this goal, there is naturally no question; but such subjects as mathematics, the study of angles, mechanics, the various problems of geometry, hydraulics, and many others of a similar nature, which do not tend directly towards that goal, should be studied for the purpose of sharpening the mind, and training the mental faculties by scientific investigations, so that man may acquire intellectual ability to distinguish demonstrative proofs from others, whereby he will be enabled to comprehend the essence of God

ื•ื›ืŸ ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ืื“ื ื›ื•ืœื ืื™ืŸ ืฆืจื™ืš ืฉื™ื“ื‘ืจ ืืœื ื‘ืžื” ืฉื™ื‘ื™ื ืœื ืคืฉื• ื‘ื• ืชื•ืขืœืช ืื• ื™ื“ื—ื” ื”ื™ื–ืง ืžื ืคืฉื• ืื• ืžื’ื•ืคื•, ืื• ื‘ื—ื›ืžื” ืื• ื‘ืžืขืœื” ืื• ื‘ืฉื‘ื— ืžืขืœื” ืื• ืžืขื•ืœื” ืื• ืœื’ื ื•ืช ื’ื ื•ืช ืื• ืžื’ื•ื ื”, ื›ื™ ืงืœืœืช ื‘ืขืœื™ ื”ื—ืกืจื•ื ื•ืช ื•ื–ื›ืจื ืœื’ื ื•ืช ืื ื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื‘ื• ืœื—ืกืจื ืืฆืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ืขื“ ืฉื™ืชืจื—ืงื• ืžื”ื ื•ืœื ื™ืขืฉื• ื›ืžืขืฉื™ื”ื ื”ื•ื ืžื—ื•ื™ื‘ ื•ื”ื™ื ืžืขืœื”, ื”ืœื ืชืจืื” ืืžืจื• ื™ืช' ื›ืžืขืฉื” ืืจืฅ ืžืฆืจื™ื ื•ื’ื•' ื•ื›ืžืขืฉื” ืืจืฅ ื›ื ืขืŸ, ื•ืกืคืจื• ื”ืกื“ื•ืžื™ื™ื ื•ื›ืœ ืžื” ืฉื‘ื ื‘ืžืงืจื ืžื’ื ื•ืช ื‘ืขืœื™ ื”ื—ืกืจื•ื ื•ืช ื•ื–ื›ืจื ืœื’ื ืื™ ื•ืฉื‘ื— ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื ื•ื”ื’ื“ืœืชื ืื™ืŸ ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื‘ื• ืจืง ืžื” ืฉื–ื›ืจืชื™ ืœืš ืขื“ ืฉื™ืžืฉื›ื• ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ืื—ืจื™ ื“ืจืš ื”ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื ื”ืืœื”, ื•ื™ืชืจื—ืงื• ืžื“ืจืš ื”ืจืขื™ื ื”ื”ื

Similarly, in regard to man's conversation, he should speak only of those things that will be conducive to the true welfare of his soul and body, or that will tend to avert injury from them, whether his words concern themselves with science, or virtue, or praise of virtue or of a virtuous man, or with censure of vice or of a vicious person; for to express contempt for those who are loaded with vice, or to depict their deeds as contemptible if done for the purpose of disparaging them in the eyes of other men who may avoid them, and not do as they do is indeed a virtuous duty. Does not Scripture say, (Leviticus 18:3) "After the doings of the land of Egypt ye shall not do, and after the doings of the land of Canaan"? Also, the story of the Sodomites and all the passages occurring in Scripture, which censure those laden with vice, and represent their doings as disgraceful, and those passages which praise and hold the good in high esteem, endeavor, as I have said, to induce man to follow the paths of the righteous, and to shun the way of the wicked.

ื›ืฉื™ืฉื™ื ื”ืื“ื ื›ื•ื•ื ืชื• ืืœ ื–ื” ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ื™ื‘ื˜ืœ ืžืคืขื•ืœื•ืชื™ื• ื•ื™ื—ืกืจ ืžืžืืžืจื™ื• ื”ืจื‘ื” ืžืื“, ื›ื™ ืžื™ ืฉื™ื›ื•ื™ืŸ ืืœ ื–ื” ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ ืœื ื™ืชืขื•ืจืจ ืœืคืชื— ื”ื›ืœื™ื ื‘ื–ื”ื‘ ืื• ืœืขืฉื•ืช ืจืงื•ื ื–ื”ื‘ ื‘ื‘ื’ื“ื™ื•, ื”ืืœื”ื™ื ืื ืœื ื™ื›ื•ื™ืŸ ื‘ื–ื” ืœื”ืจื—ื™ื‘ ื ืคืฉื• ื›ื“ื™ ืฉืชื‘ืจื™ื, ื•ื™ืจื—ื™ืง ืžืžื ื” ื—ืœื™ื” ืขื“ ืฉืชื”ื™ื” ื‘ื”ื™ืจื” ื–ื›ื” ืœืงื‘ืœ ื”ื—ื›ืžื•ืช, ื•ื”ื•ื ืืžืจื (ื–"ืœ) ื“ื™ืจื” ื ืื” ื•ืืฉื” ื ืื” ื•ืžื˜ื” ืžื•ืฆืขืช ืœืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ ื—ื›ืžื™ื, ื›ื™ ื”ื ืคืฉ ืชืœืื” ื•ืชืขื›ืจ ื”ืžื—ืฉื‘ื” ื‘ื”ืชืžื“ืช ืขื™ื•ืŸ ื”ื“ื‘ืจื™ื ื”ืขื›ื•ืจื™ื ื›ืžื• ืฉื™ืœืื” ื”ื’ื•ืฃ ื‘ืขืฉื•ืช ื”ืžืœืื›ื•ืช ื”ื›ื‘ื“ื•ืช ืขื“ ืฉื™ื ื•ื— ื•ื™ื ืคืฉ ื•ืื– ื™ืฉื•ื‘ ืœืžื–ื’ื• ื”ืฉื•ื”, ื›ืŸ ืฆืจื™ื›ื” ื”ื ืคืฉ ื’ื ื›ืŸ ืœื”ืชืขืกืง ื‘ืžื ื•ื—ืช ื”ื—ื•ืฉื™ื ื›ืขื™ื•ืŸ ืœืคืชื•ื—ื™ื ื•ืœืขื ื™ื ื™ื ื”ื ืื™ื ืขื“ ืฉื™ืกื•ืจ ืžืžื ื” ื”ืœื™ืื•ืช, ื›ืžื• ืฉืืžืจื• ื›ื™ ื—ืœืฉื™ ืจื‘ื ืŸ ืžื’ื™ืจืกื, ื•ื™ื—ืฉื•ื‘ ืฉืขืœ ื–ื” ื”ืฆื“ ืœื ื™ื”ื™ื• ืืœื” ืจืขื•ืช ื•ืœื ืžืขืฉื” ื”ื‘ืœ ืจ"ืœ ืขืฉื™ืช ื”ืคืชื•ื—ื™ื ื•ื”ืฆื™ื•ืจื™ื ื‘ื‘ื ื™ื™ื ื™ื ื•ื‘ื›ืœื™ื ื•ื‘ื’ื“ื™ื

If man has this as his ideal, he will dispense with many of his customary deeds, and refrain from a great deal of ordinary conversation. He who follows this line of conduct will not trouble himself with adorning his walls with golden ornaments, nor with decorating his garments with golden fringe, unless it be for the purpose of enlivening his soul, and thus restoring it to health, or of banishing sickness from it, so that it shall become clear and pure, and thus be in the proper condition to acquire wisdom. Therefore, our Rabbis of blessed memory say, (Shabbat 25b) "It is becoming that a sage should have a pleasant dwelling, a beautiful wife, and domestic comfort"; for one becomes weary, and one's mind dulled by continued mental concentration upon difficult problems. Thus, just as the body becomes exhausted from hard labor, and then by rest and refreshment recovers, so is it necessary for the mind to have relaxation by gazing upon pictures and other beautiful objects, that its weariness may be dispelled. Accordingly, it is related (Shabbat 30b) that when the Rabbis became exhausted from study, they were accustomed to engage in entertaining conversation (in order to refresh themselves). From this point of view, therefore, the use of pictures and embroideries for beautifying the house, the furniture, and the clothes is not to be considered immoral nor unnecessary

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

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Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, LCSW-R, DHL is a psychotherapist who works with high conflict couples and families. He can be reached via email at simchafeuerman@gmail.com