Spiritual Energy in Physical Food: Insights from Moses and the Ari on Divine Life Force

In the Torah portion of Eikev, Moses delivers his final speech to the Israelites, addressing a fundamental challenge faced during journeys in harsh environments: the scarcity of sufficient food and water. He offers a profound spiritual insight when food is found, stating, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." This raises a question among moral scholars and students of the Ari, the great Kabbalist: how can the soul, which is entirely spiritual, derive vitality and strength from physical food?

The answer lies in the belief that everything created exists through the divine command and speech of God at creation, as expressed in verses like "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made" and "The world was created by ten utterances." The divine power embedded in God's speech is present within the food itself, serving as nourishment for the soul. When a Jewish person today takes fruit from the refrigerator and recites the blessing "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree" with intention, the spiritual forces contained in the fruit since its creation are awakened. This divine energy provides life and spiritual vitality to the soul.

According to the teachings of the Ari, the phrase "Man shall not live by bread alone" means that physical food like bread or fruit does not sustain a person by itself. Rather, it is "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God", the divine speech that created and brought forth the food, that the soul receives nourishment and strength. This spiritual sustenance empowers the soul to act within the body, which in turn remains a proper and functioning home for the soul. The article concludes with a hope that each eating experience will renew the awareness of God's living words and wishes readers a peaceful Sabbath.