Having a healthy and complete body is one of the ways of serving Hashem.

היות הגוף בריא ושלם מדרכי עבודת השם הוא

  • היות הגוף (hiyot ha'guf) means "the body being."
  • בריא ושלם (bari v'shalem) means "healthy and complete" (or whole).
  • מדרכי עבודת השם (midarchei avodat Hashem) means "from the ways of serving Hashem."
  • הוא (hu) means "is."

This statement reflects the idea, found in various Jewish teachings, that maintaining one's physical health is not just a personal responsibility but a component of serving Hashem. The idea is that a healthy body allows a person to fulfill mitzvot, study Torah, and engage in acts of kindness with greater energy and focus. It emphasizes that caring for one's physical well-being is integral to a life of spiritual service. This concept is famously mentioned in Rambam's (Maimonides) writings, where he discusses the importance of a healthy lifestyle as part of divine service.