Dr. Samuel S. Kotteck - The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Kotteck uses ancient Jewish texts to trace the development of exercise and training among Jews
Hygiene was in ancient times much more developed than people imagine. Physicians, philosophers, and even theologians admonished their audience (or patients) to adopt a healthy way of life. The Jewish medieval authority Maimonides (twelfth century), who was a trained physician, included detailed suggestions on how to live a healthy life in his theological masterpiece Mishneh Thora. Mai- monides warns against loss of strength that may result from living a sedentary life and from lack of physical exercise. Even in the Bible, the book Ecclesiastes puts sedentary scholars on their guard: “Much study is a weariness of the flesh” [Eccl. 12: 12]. A talmudic statement seemingly suggests that the physical strength of scholars had dimin- ished from generation to generation: “From the time of Moses till the generation of Rabban Gamliel the students stood up while learning the law. After the death of R. Gamliel disease (or weakness) came down on the world, and they learned while being seated” [b. Megillah21a]. Rabbi Yohanan gave the following advice: “Do not sit too much, it provokes hemorrhoids; do not stand too much, this is harm- ful to the heart; do not walk too much, this is injurious to the eyes.” He accordingly advised to sit one third, stand one third, and walk one third of the way [b. Kethubot 11la]. Rabbi Judah remarked that people and animals who live in a town where there are many ascents and descents (acclivity) die in half their days. At second thought, he says, no, they do not really die, they age prematurely [b. Erubin 56a]. Other sages stated: “Whoever eats and does not walk thereafter at least four cubits, the food he ate will rot (i.e. will not be digest- ed), which will bring forth foul odor from the mouth” [b. Shabbat 41a]. Not only digestion, sleep as well is influenced by activity, as is stated in Ecclesiastes: “Sweet is the sleep of a working (i.e., phys-ically active) man, whether he eats little or much: but the repletion of the rich (i.e., idle) will prevent him from sleeping” [Eccl. 5: 11].