A Taste of Abstention
The following narrative, which occurred in my youth, taught me a valuable lesson. I was walking through the Moroccan market with Father, zy”a. It was during the season of a specific plant which was very popular cooked together with meat. It was nutritious and high-quality.
Even though Father was completely detached from all types of materialistic pleasures, he had the custom of thanking Hashem for all new creations. He therefore purchased this plant so that he could make the blessing Shehecheyanu after it was properly prepared.
After it was made and served to him, Father tasted it and then pushed away the plate. We tried our best to convince him to eat this healthful food. But Father flatly refused. He stated that by making the Shehecheyanu blessing over it and taking a taste, he had satisfied all of his interest in this food. After thanking Hashem for it, he saw no need in continuing to eat it.
Father’s abstention from physical pleasures made a deep impression on me. I constantly try to follow in his ways, minimizing materialism and maximizing spirituality instead.
