Daily Zohar # 4838 – Acharei Mot – The spirit of life in the apple

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Hebrew translation:

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Zohar Acharei Mot
Continued from previous DZ
#318
And he (Rabbi Chiyya) answered: Since the verse says “apple (תפוח),” it turns out that she (Congregation of Israel) is praising Him (the Holy One, blessed be He) in every possible way— in color, in fragrance, and taste. Just as the apple is a healing for all, so too the Holy One is a healing for all. Just as the apple displays colors, as we have established—white, red, and green— so too the Holy One is manifest in supernal hues, which are Chessed, Gevurah, and Tiferet—corresponding to white, red, and green. Just as the apple has a subtle fragrance, more refined than all other trees, so too of the Holy One it is written:
“וְרֵיחַ לוֹ כַּלְּבָנוֹן” “And His fragrance is like Lebanon” (Hosea 14:7). Just as the apple has a sweet taste, so too of the Holy One it is written:
“חִכּוֹ מַמְתַּקִּים” “His mouth is most sweet” (Songs 5:16).

Notes:
In Jewish tradition, food is not just sustenance for the body but a vehicle for spiritual elevation. The Torah teaches that eating should be done with mindfulness and holiness, as it is written:
“וְכָל־מַעֲשֶׂיךָ יִהְיוּ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם” —”Let all your actions be for the sake of Heaven” (Pirkei Avot 2:12). This includes the act of eating, which can either uplift or distance a person from spiritual clarity. According to Kabbalah, food that retains its vital energy (חיות) can nourish not only the body but also the soul. When food is overly processed, sprayed with chemicals, or radiated to extend its shelf life, it loses part of the divine spark (ניצוץ אלוה) inherent in natural creation. The Baal Shem Tov taught that every physical object has a spark of divine life force that calls out to be elevated through proper use—primarily through eating with blessings, gratitude, and awareness. Non-organic apples, though still a creation of Hashem, have often been stripped of their spiritual vibrancy through artificial preservation methods. Their extended shelf life may preserve their external appearance, but the inner vitality, the spirit of life (רוח החיים), is diminished. When we choose organic, life-filled foods, especially when eating with blessings and conscious intention, we align with that divine flow and allow the act of eating to become a form of service to Hashem. In this way, selecting organic fruits, like apples, is more than a health choice—it’s a spiritual act, honoring the original divine blueprint of creation and drawing down blessings through the food we eat.

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