Inspirational Moment

The Torah recounts that as Bnai Yisroel entered their fortieth year in the Midbar, Miriam died and the miraculous well that had accompanied the nation all the years, in her merit, was no longer there for them. “V’lo hoyoh mayim la’eidah vayikahalu al Moshe v’al Aharon – There was no water for the group and the people gathered against Moshe and Aharon.” (Bamidbar 20:2)

The Torah recounts that as Bnai Yisroel entered their fortieth year in the Midbar, Miriam died and the miraculous well that had accompanied the nation all the years, in her merit, was no longer there for them. “V’lo hoyoh mayim la’eidah vayikahalu al Moshe v’al Aharon – There was no water for the group and the people gathered against Moshe and Aharon.” (Bamidbar 20:2)

The commentaries ask the question: How is it possible that such a meritorious generation that was privileged to witness so many miracles would be provoked to rebel against Moshe and Aharon? These were people who appreciated the greatness of their leadership and observed the self-sacrifice of both Moshe and Aharon on behalf of Klal Yisroel. What was it that swayed the people to press forward in their rebellion?

It is explained that clarity of thought is not a definite. It is a quality that we pray for every single day. In the birchos hashachar of the morning we recite two brachos that encompass this request. The first is, “… Asher nosan lasechvi vinah … --Who gave the rooster the understanding to distinguish between day and night” and the second, “… Pokei’ach ivrim – Who gives sight to the blind.” We ask Hashem that we should be granted the ability to be able to differentiate between good and bad, and the capacity to discern events in our life with the true Torah perspective, and not through a distorted lens.

However, the yetzer hora is our major adversary in life. The Hebrew word yetzer has the same letters as the Hebrew word tzayar – a painter. His primary goal is to conceal reality and to paint a distorted picture of the world, so that we are unable to distinguish the truth.

Therein lies the explanation of how Klal Yisroel could rebel against Moshe Rabbeinu. The yetzer hora, which is adept at blinding a person to the reality of a situation and causing machlokess (strife) had triumphed.

The Arvei Nachal explores the workings of the yetzer hora in depth. He quotes the gemara in Kiddushin 30b that describes the yetzer hora as “yitzro shel adam – the inclination of man.” He explains that there are two types of inclination. One is the angel who tries to lure the person into corruption and sin. However, this angel is limited by certain guidelines, otherwise man would no longer have the prospect of free choice. However, there is also the yetzer that is called yitzro shel odom. This is enrooted in the physical aspect of man, and relates to the various material elements of which his body is comprised. That inclination incites different desires in each person, according to his individual nature. This yetzer has no limitations, and if the individual does not restrain the yetzer, he will be powerless to control it. Because of this, our Sages conclude there, “if not for Hashem’s help, we would not be able to overpower the yetzer hora.”

The Arvei Nachal cites the gemara further that “each day the yetzer hora recharges itself anew.” Thus, we gain additional insight into Klal Yisroel’s sin of the Golden Calf, so closely following Matan Torah. As the level of the nation’s holiness increased after receiving the Torah, the power of the evil inclination was boosted proportionately.

Accordingly, Chazal have recommended two ways of successfully confronting the challenges of the yetzer hora.

One is to pray for Divine assistance, as the gemara states, “if not for Hashem’s help, we would not be able to overpower the yetzer hora.” We therefore include a specific prayer each morning, “v’al tashlet banu yetzer hora – the evil inclination should not dominate over us.” The second suggestion is to learn Torah, as cited in gemara, “barasi lo yetzer hora barasi lo Torah tavlin -- the greatest antidote for the yetzer hora is the learning of Torah.”

A person was once accused of a crime against the king and was sent to prison until the day he would stand trial. On the day set for his court appearance, the guard arrived to take him to court. In order to ensure that the prisoner would not escape, the guard handcuffed the prisoner to himself, and together they proceeded to the court.

As they walked on the road people who saw them approached out of curiosity, and they soon began to taunt the prisoner. The prisoner called out, “I’m sorry, you have it confused. He is not bringing me; I’m the one who is bringing him. I locked him into the handcuffs.”

All of a sudden someone in the crowd responded, “If that is so, then open the handcuffs to prove that you’re saying the truth. If you can free yourself it will verify that you are the one in power over him. If not, then it will confirm that he has authority over you. “

So said the Alter of Navardok. There are times when the yetzer hora takes control of the individual and accustoms him to something bad. The yetzer hora wishes to have dominion over the person. If we want to know who truthfully rules, then we have to see if we can free ourselves from the bad habit. That is the essence of our daily request in our tefillos, “v’al tashlet banu yetzer hora – help us that the evil inclination should not rule over us.”