You Will Eat and Be Satisfied (8:10)

In case you did not catch the title, let me repeat it for clarification. “You will eat and be satisfied.”

I know what you’re thinking. The Rabbi must be running out of material, and he needs to waste some copy space. Wrong!! I figured if it was good enough for the Good Book, it is good enough for Timeless Torah. (By the way, had the title “Good Book” not been chosen, “Timeless Torah” would have been a great substitute.)

But to get back to our story. Twice in this week’s Biblical reading we hear the exact same phrase. Once, when we are given the commandment to offer blessings (grace) after meals; and second, in the verse, “You will eat and be satisfied. Watch yourselves, lest your heart be seduced and you turn and serve other gods.”
The emphasized repetition indicates that a few slices of bread pose so much danger that it requires (1) an additional after blessing, and (2) a dire warning that too much food might incline the ‘eater’ to idolatrous behavior.

Many cultures, both ancient and contemporary,  incorporate blessings prior to eating. As Jews, we do that as well. However, what is unique to Torah is its obligation to express thanks a second time, after one has eaten. Even more astounding is that the former blessings are merely Rabbinical, while the latter are Biblical.  The former provide a format to the natural feelings of gratitude we all experience when being served a delicious meal (especially if we were famished). However, by the time we reach the latter blessings and we are full, the equation changes. Instead of devising an outlet to express our appreciation, the Torah created a Commandment.

The specified time for this Biblical blessing is striking. Most blessings are recited before we do the mitzvah (i.e., before we put on the tefillin, eat challah, etc.). In this instance, the Grace is said afterwards.

This anomaly reflects the Torah’s profound understanding of human nature. It is easier to think of G-d before the meal rather than after, when the belly is sated and the spirit is drowsy. The Torah takes this a step further and warns us that after stuffing ourselves, we are highly vulnerable.

“Guard yourselves…lest you eat and be satisfied, and build good houses…and you instill pride in your hearts and forget your G-d who took you out from the house of slavery… and you say in your hearts, ‘my strength and the might of my hand made me all of this great wealth!’” 
The antidote thus prescribed by our Heavenly Doctor is the after-meal blessing. It counteracts this forgetfulness and reminds us that it all comes from G-d.

The story is told of a woman late for a business appointment. Caught in traffic, she began to pray. “G-d, help me get there, and I’ll light candles every Shabbat!” At that moment the police opened a lane around the accident and she got through. Soon she hit a long line at a toll. “G-d, help me and I’ll be more honest in my business!” Suddenly another booth opened, and she slid through. Arriving at her destination, no parking space was to be found. “G-d, help me, and I’ll even stop gossiping!” Just then someone pulled out from the space directly opposite the building entrance.

With not a moment to spare, she got to the office, and called out, “It’s ok G-d. I worked it out myself.” / This is why the Torah calls upon us to remember G-d after His blessings have reached us, so that we not look upon the areas where we have been most fortunate and claim, “I did it myself.” 

When it comes to learning Torah however, the process is reversed. As famous Israeli columnist Amnon Denker once commented, “The appetite comes with the eating.” The more Torah one learns, the more one wishes to learn. That is why before studying one makes a bracha, for that is when one least appreciates the tremendous gift of Torah G-d bestowed upon us.

The Talmud says that one reason for the destruction of the First Temple was that Jewish scholars, “did not bless the Torah before learning it.” Rabbeinu Yonah explains how such an apparently trivial matter could cause the destruction of G-d’s House and exile. He says that people would learn Torah, but not because it was G-d’s wisdom. It was merely an intellectual pursuit, no more important than any other work of literature.

We need to recognize that both material and spiritual wealth comes from G-d. And we need to do so precisely at the moments when we are most likely to forget His involvement; after seeing material blessing (Grace after the meal), and before dwelling in the spiritual (before learning Torah).

One final thought. Why did our Sages institute an additional blessing before eating, but not one after learning? Because we are never finished learning!