A few months ago, I discovered a skin condition on my legs that required antibiotics. However, being mindful of my health and aware of the negative impact antibiotics can have—of also killing the beneficial bacteria in the gut—I knew I didn’t want to take that route. By Divine Providence, and without delving too deeply into the details, I was introduced to natural foods and methods that would nurture my gut and liver, helping to eliminate the bad bacteria and restore my skin's health. Over the following months, I invested a significant portion of the modest earnings I receive coaching clients while mainly studying in yeshiva, understanding that this high-quality food was crucial for my gut health. However, what I didn’t realize at the time was the underlying stress I felt from regularly allocating such a large portion of my earnings.
I eventually stumbled upon a few profound questions that I began asking myself.
On February 8, 2025, the Jewish world, particularly the Chabad Lubavitch community, marked the yahrzeit—the anniversary of the passing—of the Friedeker Rebbe, the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, as well as the 75th anniversary of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson’s leadership as the Lubavitcher Rebbe. In my yeshiva, we held a large farbrengen (gathering) to commemorate this significant day in the Hebrew calendar, Yud Shevat. Rabbi Goldberg led the farbrengen and shared many deeply meaningful, personal, and emotional messages and stories with us. One of the topics he raised sparked the very questions I mentioned earlier and share below.
In the spirit of the farbrengen, Rabbi Goldberg discussed the concept of chiyyus, or life, and what it truly means to live. He shared a story about Rabbi Meir Nissim (Michel) Abehsera, a renowned author and counselor on macrobiotic food and health. After returning to Orthodox Judaism, Rabbi Abehsera wrote to the Rebbe, asking the importance of diets and macrobiotic foods. The Rebbe's response was clear: the most important thing regarding diet is that it should align with the Shulchan Aruch, the Jewish code of law.
Rabbi Goldberg continued by explaining that when faced with a challenge, we should turn our thoughts to the Rebbe, the leader of our generation, who always has our best interests at heart. In such moments, we are encouraged to ask ourselves the following question:
What would the Rebbe want me to do in this situation?
The two messages—the story about macrobiotics and the question—resonated deeply with me. I had been frustrated, feeling that despite my careful attention to my diet, my skin wasn’t healing. The next morning, during meditation and later during Shacharit (morning prayers), I asked myself this question, along with a few others that I’ll share below. These reflections helped me realize that purchasing the healthy product was, in fact, causing more harm than good, primarily through stress, rather than delivering the benefits I had hoped for. Letting go of needing this product brought a sense of lightness and ease.
This led me to ask:
What else can I let go of?
What can I release to make room for something greater to enter my life?
Where can I improve in ways that will allow healing to unfold naturally and allow me to get out of Hashem’s way?
Where might I be holding on too tightly?
Ultimately, this process led me to a more empowering question:
How would I think, feel, and act if I were already healed and fully healthy?
That’s when I realized (once again!) that, despite the high-quality benefits offered by a certain nutritional product, an overemphasis on health and nutrition can, G-d forbid, become a form of Mitzrayim—Egypt—symbolizing a limitation that holds us back from geulah—redemption.
As Jewish Law teaches us, especially as elaborated by the Rambam and revealed more so by the Rebbe, nutrition is important, but it must be balanced with a broader understanding of spiritual and physical health.
A more empowering mindset, however, is to remember the words of Ani Hashem Rofecha—“I, Hashem, am your healer.” It is not the products that heal us, but G-d who provides healing through the food that sustains us. While good nutrition can reveal this healing, if the pursuit of health itself causes more harm than benefit, it becomes a problem. Perhaps, letting go of that product—or anything that no longer serves you and thus limits your potential—may be the very thing that brings you closer to what you seek: the freedom of not needing it at all.
May you come to recognize the Healer within you and embrace your complete health.
If you’re ready to take charge of your health and wellness, feel free to reach out for a free discovery coaching session.
One last point. Even if a person has a desire for a certain product and can make an effort to get it, perhaps a question to ask is if it is what G-d wants him or her to do now?
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