Using the Body for Good
"Physical desire is necessarily selfish,
seeing the body as an end in itself,
rather than a means of divine service.
"Yet even physical desire
contains a spark of holiness,
and because this is so,
physical desire,
while rarely self-transcending,
can sometimes be steeped in compassion and goodness.
"For example,
eating a meal of fat beef and spiced wine is a neutral act.
But if done to make your mind
more receptive to the teachings of Torah
or to honor the Sabbath and festivals,
your intention to serve God elevates the act
and all involved in it in service to God.
"The same can be said of humor.
If a joke is told to sharpen the mind
and uplift the heart,
it is in service to God."
