יום ב Date: 22 Adar II, 5774 (3/24/14) – Sukkah#49 {Tani}

R’ PAPPA [49b middle]: A person is only satiated from wine, when his throat has had its fill (with large gulps). However, satiation by food is in relation to the stomach. When a person feels satiated in his stomach, even if he only ate a little bit, that is considered as if he had his fill.

T’s Lesson: We know that we are supposed to bentch when we feel “satiated.” The pasuk says “v’achalta v’sevata uverachata” (“and you eat and you will be full and satiated”). Why does it not say “and when you are full you should bentch?” The answer could be as the Gemorah here explains. We are required to thank G-d for feeling satiated and content with our lot, happy with our eating, even if it does not make us full. Every person has different cravings and eating habits. IF the torah said when you are full, when would you stop eating? Once you are satisfied (even if not completely full) you thank Hashem. We should not eat in excess.  Do not be a glutton. That is the way of the hedonists and pagans like in the times of Purim and in Rome. Do not be a “physical pleasure pursuer.” Eat to satisfy your bodily needs. Additionally, do not waste tons of money on food just for the sake of eating. “Eat to live” do not “live to eat.”