"A small hole in the body causes a large hole in the soul."

Freely translated

18 Shvat, 5716 (1856)

... My father-in-law, the Rebbe, of blessed memory, related the statement of his father, the Rebbe Rashab, of blessed memory: "See how precious is the body of a Jew - for its sake has G-d poured forth so much Torah and mitzvos (commandments)."

When G-d gives each and every one of us something as precious as the body, we are to make every effort and truly exert ourselves to insure that the body be healthy. In so doing, we make it possible to fulfill G-d's will of performing Torah and mitzvos, which is specifically performed with the body.

This is as Maimonides states in Hilchos Deos, beginning of ch. 4, that "maintaining a healthy and whole body is an integral part of one's Divine service." And then there is the letter of the Maggid of Mezritch (printed in HaTamim) to his son, the holy "Malach," (angel) in which he
states: "A small hole in the body causes a large hole in the soul."

My intent is not to lecture - rather, it is my hope that the above will hopefully have a positive effect on you, and through you it will also have an effect upon your husband.

Although the Zohar does state that the "strength of the soul leads to the weakening of the body," this is to be understood in the context of the spiritual power and potency of the holy soul weakening the corporeal demands of the body - not, Heaven forbid, weakening the health of the body.

Indeed, we readily observe that when a person is healthy he can accomplish so much more in all areas [than when he is unhealthy,] particularly with regard to matters relating to love of G-d, love of Torah and love of a fellow Jew. ...

* * *

Igros Kodesh, Vol. IV, p. 341


I received with pleasure and joy your letter.... I was already concerned that I had not heard from you for a while, although I was partly mollified by the letter that I received from your son, which contained regards from you.

I am pleased that you found a residence [in Florida], and I hope that you and your wife will feel good there and be able to use the time to truly strengthen your physical health, which for a Jew also leads to health of the soul.

As the Maggid of Mezritch wrote to his son, Reb Avraham the "Malach" - who very much followed the course of fasting and self-mortification, and in general was detached from this corporeal world and whose father would often try to convince him not to serve G-d in this manner - "A small hole in the body causes a large hole in the soul."

We readily observe this with our own eyes: that those individuals who desire to serve G-d - and their bodies do not interfere by being weak and the like - are able to serve Him in a more complete manner.

In addition to the above, it is also explained in many sefarim (holy
books) that the body is not a person's possession, but belongs to G-d.
Therefore a person must take care of himself and see that his body is in good condition (understandably not at the expense of damaging his soul).

This is also why, according to Jewish law, a person who inflicts injury on himself, although he is not subject to punishment in a human court of law, is guilty according to the laws of Heaven.

In the words of the Alter Rebbe: "A person has no rights at all over his body, neither to smite it, nor to shame it, nor to torment it with any sort of pain, unless he does so as a form of repentance, for this pain [for the sake of repentance] is doing the person a service - to save himself from Purgatory."

I hope that you will soon find a circle of friends there upon whom you will be able to exert an influence, so that they will become not only physically healthy in Florida, but spiritually healthy as well.

From Healthy in Body, Mind and Soul, translated by Rabbi
Sholom B. Wineberg, published by Sichos in English