Guarding our health is an act of Jewish responsibility - opinion

Michael Freund argues that maintaining one's health is a crucial, yet frequently overlooked, religious obligation within Judaism. He contends that while Judaism does not emphasize physical vanity, it deeply values the body as an instrument for fulfilling life's purpose.

Freund references the Talmud, where Rabbi Huna rebuked his son for dismissing lectures on secular matters, stating, "He teaches you how to be healthy, and you call that secular?" This highlights the Jewish tradition's view that understanding how to care for the body is essential wisdom for a proper religious life.

The piece further cites the Rambam's Mishneh Torah, which states that a healthy body is "among the ways of God" because one cannot understand the Creator when ill. Freund emphasizes that health is not the ultimate goal but a necessary tool for living a purposeful life, enabling the study of Torah, acts of kindness, and the building of families and communities.

Freund also points to the Tur, a 14th-century legal code, which calls it a "mitzvah" (commandment) to maintain healthy habits for serving God. He clarifies that while not a standalone commandment like donning tefillin, physical activity becomes a religious obligation when necessary for preserving health and strength to serve God, thus fulfilling the duty to protect the life and body entrusted by the Creator. This perspective challenges the notion that religious individuals might neglect their physical well-being.