Posted on 10/29/24
Baltimore, MD - Oct. 28, 2024 - Baltimore Jewish Home's 613 Seconds with Baltimore native Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Naiman, Founder of Healthy Jew, Foraging Guide, and Mashgiach Ruchani at Yeshivat Lev HaTorah
Baltimore Jewish Home: Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from?
Rabbi Naiman: I was born and raised in Baltimore, with roots here for seven generations. I attended Torah Institute and then Ner Yisrael. At 19, I came to Eretz Yisrael to learn in the Mir, and I’ve been learning and teaching Torah here ever since. My family and I currently live in Ramat Bet Shemesh. (Here’s the secret to staying in EY: marry an Israeli, and you’re stuck!)
BJH: And now you’re also in the health and wellness field. How did you get into this?
Rabbi Naiman: I’ve always been a bit restless and often felt unwell or distracted. Over the years, I found that consistently practicing healthy living—eating well, exercising, and reducing unhealthy stress—helps me stay focused, productive, happy, and healthy. I wanted to share my experiences with a broader audience, so I enrolled in a 3-year program to become a certified healthy lifestyle counselor.
BJH: Your brand is called Healthy Jew. What exactly do you do?
Rabbi Naiman: Most of my work involves writing and teaching about Jewish wellness and Eretz Yisrael—two closely connected topics, because, as the Kuzari and Vilna Gaon explain, Eretz Yisrael is the healthy body of Klal Yisrael. I publish a free weekly email newsletter called The Healthy Jew and lead foraging walks in Israel’s natural world. One of the first people to join my foraging walks enjoyed it so much that he invited me to teach a nightly Healthy Jew class at his gap-year yeshiva, Lev HaTorah, where I now work almost full-time as Mashgiach Ruchani.
BJH: Foraging walks—what’s that all about?
Rabbi Naiman: It might sound unusual, but people of all ages love these fascinating, fun, and deeply meaningful experiences. As we walk through some of Eretz Yisrael’s most beautiful natural and historical sites, we learn about and eat the very same plants that our ancestors gathered here. For example, we taste the bitterness of wild lettuce for maror and gather seeds and berries mentioned in the Mishnah, all while appreciating their historical context, like Emek HaEla where David fought Goliath.
When out foraging, Eretz Yisrael comes alive. Our modern country isn’t just concrete, metal, and glass—found all over the world—and our history isn’t only in ancient ruins. People are seeking new, authentic ways to connect with Israel, and foraging walks offer an excellent way to do that.
BJH: Your passion is palpable. Now, let’s talk about your new book, Land of Health: Israel’s War for Wellness, which is out now from Menucha Publishers. Why did you write it, and what can readers expect?
Rabbi Naiman: On October 8, 2023, I was thinking about how I could contribute during the unfolding crisis. I’m not much of a soldier, at least in the conventional sense. But even then, it was clear there would be another dimension to the conflict—what I’ve come to call the “war for wellness.”
Jews around the world… [pause while Rabbi Naiman heads to the safe room—this interview was interrupted by Iran’s October 1 missile attacks]… are experiencing anxiety, stress, and fear at levels we haven’t seen in generations. Healthy Jew offers solutions in two ways. First, as the Kuzari explains based on Tehillim (102:15), our nation’s troubles stem from not yearning to know Hashem in Eretz Yisrael, and salvation comes when we cherish and desire this perfect place for imperfect people. And on a simpler level, taking care of ourselves with strategies appropriate for challenging times will help us survive and thrive through this crisis. These two themes form the two sections of my book.
BJH: Fascinating approach. Who is the target audience for this book?
Rabbi Naiman: Anyone who’s open to appreciating Israel’s central role in Judaism and anyone interested in integrating healthy living into a Torah lifestyle. There’s nothing controversial about these principles, and I don’t take sides in political or religious debates on how to apply them in our complex world. The book is written in clear, engaging English to reach a wide audience. Plus, our publishing team has created a beautifully designed book with dozens of stunning full-color photos of Israel’s natural world, highlighting its beauty and vitality even in difficult times. So, it’s worth it just for the pictures!
BJH: Your dedication shines through in all aspects of your work. If someone wants to learn more about you, your book, foraging walks, and other projects, where can they find you?
Rabbi Naiman: Everything Healthy Jew can be found on my website, healthyjew.org. It concisely introduces the three main things available: my new book, my foraging walks, and my weekly email newsletter.
Order your copy of Land of Health: https://www.amazon.com/Land-Health-Israels-War-Wellness/dp/B0DC4BGPKC
