Readers’ Scoop: My New Car And My Body

Readers-Scoop-Logo smallTonight I walked into a gym. I am 33 years old and it is the first time in my life walking into a gym with the intent of working out. About six months ago I was looking to buy a new car. B’H I was able to look into some fancier cars and I liked what I saw. The salesman was telling me about this piece of machinery that controls this, and this piece of machinery that controls that. The car that I purchased had loads of quirky and cool gizmos and I marveled at modern technology.

A few Motzei Shabbosim after purchasing this car, I attended a shiur by my Rav who spoke about the incredible engineering of the human body. He explained how no scientist could ever possible recreate anything as complex as the human body. That got me thinking, there I was putting Super-Unleaded gas into my car for an extra 8 dollars at the pump yet I was eating fast food almost three nights a week. How can I treat a man made car better than a G-d created masterpiece of a human body? I mulled over this thought for a while and I changed my eating habits. I finally took the step of signing up to the gym.

 Tonight, when I walked in there I was so excited at what I saw. I saw Buchrim, Yungerleit, Baalei-Baatim, Rabbeim, Maggidei Shiur and all types of people working out. They were running on the treadmills, they were doing push ups, they were lifting weights and they all looked happy to be there. I know that sitting and learning is a tremendous thing. I know that sitting at a desk and earning a living is also great. But we have to take care of the greatest machine ever created; our bodies! Leaning over a shtender can really hurt your back, sitting at a desk won’t help with trimming the Shabbos food.

People, I beg of you, every morning do some push-ups, maybe some sit ups. Start with a few and work your way up. I know a Buchor that started doing eight push-ups a day, four months later he was doing one hundred and fifteen a day. This is so important. Rabbeim please encourage this. Parents please try to cut down on the sugary snacks that you send to school with your precious children.

I wish every one much success and good health.

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20 COMMENTS

  1. A little shvach with the tzushtel. Sounds like you need a little working out in the lomdus department. Try a bircas shmuel or 2 and get that lumdus back in shape. I expect a letters a little more tzumzach from tls.

  2. I agree with the author. I feed my body with literally garbage sold locally, cholent, danishes donuts, kishke, fries, pizza , soda and never do a stich of excersize, it can’t be doing my body any good. GEVALT!!!!!!

  3. I thought the letter was nice & down to earth. I do hope he eventually realizes his gashmiyus is a little over the top & the messages that semds to his family also. Exercise & watching what u eat is important to ur health. Watching what you spend on is important to ur ruchniyus health.
    At the least, whatever u spent on ur extras, give a similar amount to Tomchei Shabbos or similar tzedoko for those who can’t afford basics.

  4. I assume the letter-writer gives mussar the moment he tries to improve on a middah.

    I find it odd that you just walked into the gym “tonight” for the first time and you are already giving mussar to others.

  5. Really? You have to find something to pick on? He wrote a very true to the heart letter and you pick on his gashmiyus because he can afford a nice car? maybe you should work on your jealousy??

    I am happy to see something nice on the scoop instead of mocking phone calls etc. Keep it up scoop!

  6. WHY DOES EVERYONE ALWAYS FEEL THE NEDD TO BASH?????????? gosh its so frustrating everytime you go online these days its like these bored people sitting like vultures ready for attack!
    Leave the poor guy alone his letter has a very good msg take it or leave it! lets learn how to treat a brother with a tad of respect and maybe there will b a lot less sadness in the world! thank you

  7. “there I was putting Super-Unleaded gas into my car for an extra 8 dollars at the pump yet I was eating fast food almost three nights a week. How can I treat a man made car better than a G-d created masterpiece of a human body?”

    THE BEST LINE I HEARD IN A WHILE. PERFECT POINT! VERY WELL TAKEN, THANKS FOR THE WAKE-UP CALL I NEEDED.

  8. So he can B’H afford a nice new car! Do you know how much tzedokah he gives that you’re bashing him?!! At least SOMEONE listens to his Rov’s shiur and really applies it to his daily life! Maybe all the “hockers” here should learn from him instead of bashing! Of course it’s much easier the other way.

  9. beautiful writing! could’nt have said it better. I will try to take your advice. I’m know it’ll make my mind alot clearer and sharper. The hardest part is making that first step. After that it’s like routine and you won’t want to do without it. I’ve been there so I know!! Thanks for waking me up to caring about my health again!! I can see you are very sincere.

  10. Thank you for this letter. Everyone should take this message to heart. If you ever take an A&P class, you’ll never want to put another piece of meat into your mouth again cause of what it does to your poor heart!

  11. bashing ? I said his letter was good & down to earth. All I asked was that since he obviously is a person who listens & takes it to heart, perhaps there were other things he could also take to heart.
    Jealous ? as long as my car (2000 Impala) provides me with transportation what else do I need ?

  12. the reason why people are bashing is because the way the yeshiva velt works is that unless the musser does not come from some BIG rov israell with his name starting with moreni hagon hatzadik the its totally meaningless to them . very sad indeed . insead of taking the lesson the decide to simply shhot the messenger

  13. thank you so much for writing this letter cause every word is one hundred percent true. i used to drive but ever since our family cars stopped working, i do a lot of walking during the week to get places. i can tell you that walking can be a lot faster than getting somewhere in a car. with all this traffic in the morning, i can get to town and back home in minutes. sometimes people don’t realize how appreciative we should be for the legs we have. the legs of a human being are very powerful and can do so much for us. we need to use them more often.

  14. This is what happen when a good letter is posted. The haters/jealous ones are always finding something to bash and never looking at the positive. This has to stop people, lets encourage our sisters and brothers when they are doing something positive, ohers should follow along. I know most of us could use a little exercise.
    CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG!!!

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