The widow had custom to personally distribute kasha—buckwheat groats—to students who spent the day studying the Holy Writings. She even served this simple food during meals on Shabbos (the holy Sabbath day). Her motive was undoubtedly spiritual, and indeed, holy power may be “transmitted” through food.

Once, when she was serving the kasha, she saw a young man who ate it hurriedly, in a gluttonous manner unbefitting a student learning the Holy Writings. The widow called him over and said to him, “Do you know how many prayers were sent into heaven on behalf of this food?

At seed time, the seeds were praying that they be received into the earth and sprout. Then they pray that if heaven decrees a blight to afflict the sprouts, they be spared. Later, at threshing time, when many grains are simply lost and others carried off by the wind, they pray that nothing be lost. Still later, the grains pray that they come into the possession of a spiritual person — who will elevate them by making a blessing before eating them. Then they pray that they will become a food to be eaten on Shabbos, for this will cause their fixing (their tikkun) and elevation. Sadly if, after all this, one eats in a lowly way, one spoils everything, for a grain of kasha can only receive a fixing when eaten in a way befitting a human being!”

Holy, meditative eating is an important spiritual practice whereby both the person and the food are elevated spiritually. The widow’s words to the student encouraged him to eat with sanctity and dignity. She described the kasha seeds and grains as praying. Just as she also prayed a great deal while making the kasha and while distributing it to the students to fulfill the goal that the students and the food they ate be elevated by their eating.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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