Chai Elul ...

Wednesday:

KISLEV - Controller: Belly

The belly (keiva, in Hebrew) is one of the three gifts which we are commanded to give to the priests upon slaughtering a kosher animal. The word keiva derives from kav, which means "measure." Of the great Tanniac sage, Rabbi Chaninah ben Dosah, it is said: "The whole world is fed in the merit of Rabbi Chaninah ben Dosah, yet for Rabbi Chaninah ben Dosah one measure (kav) of carobs is enough for him from Friday to Friday."

In the rectification of one's character traits, the rectified keiva is never to be jealous of others. Our sages teach us: "a man desires one measure [kav] of his own more than nine of his friend." And so are we taught in Pirkei Avot: "who is rich, he who is happy with his portion."