Judaism: Kedoshim: Holy Physical Pleasure
Published: Friday, May 02, 2008 1:20 AM
Holiness from physical pleasure.
Rabbi Chanan Morrison
Rabbi Chanan Morrison, of Mitzpeh Yericho, runs ravkooktorah.org, a website dedicated to presenting the Torah commentary of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, first Chief Rabbi of Eretz Yisrael, to the English-speaking community. He is also the author of "Gold from the Land of Israel"."For three years the fruit shall be Orlah, and may not be eaten. In the fourth year, all of the fruit shall be holy, for praising God." (Leviticus 19:23-24)
The Talmud, in Brachot 35a, quotes this verse as the source for reciting a brachah (blessing) over food. "'Holy, for praising God' - this teaches that [fruit and other foods] require a blessing before and after eating." 
What is a brachah? When we recite a blessing, we are expressing our awareness of God as the ultimate source.
What is a brachah? When we recite a blessing, we are expressing our awareness of God as the ultimate source.
The key word, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook noted, is kodesh - holiness. Even when we eat, even when we partake of worldly pleasures, we should be able to find holiness.
Holiness from physical pleasure? How is this possible?
Opportunity for Holiness
What is a brachah? When we recite a blessing, we are expressing our awareness of God as the ultimate source for this pleasure. But there is an enjoyment greater than the sensory pleasure that comes from eating food.
Eating entitles us to recite a blessing and thus connect with our Creator. We experience an inner joy when we realize that every form of physical pleasure was created with the opportunity to refine the spirit and uplift the soul.
A brachah is not just our gratitude for the physical pleasure we are about to enjoy. Each blessing should make us aware of a far greater kindness of God: that even material pleasures can be a source of spirituality and holiness.
Our fruit thus becomes "holy, for praising God."
[Adapted from Ein Ayah vol. II, p. 171]