In All Your Ways
Ultimately, the only truly effective way to fight the evil inclination is to do good and let the negativity fall away by itself....
What to Do to Live
Ultimately, the only truly effective way to fight the evil inclination is to do good and let the negativity fall away by itself. As the Midrash says: “Rav Huna said: If a person falls into sin and deserves death from Heaven, what should he do to live? If he usually read one page of Torah, he should now read two. If he studied one chapter, he should study two” (Vayikra Rabba 25:1).
Chazal is teaching us how to do teshuva. If a person stumbles in a serious transgression, God forbid, the evil inclination can make him so depressed that not even a flicker of desire to return to God will stir in him. This poor person has fallen into a pit, and now the evil inclination rolls a heavy stone on top of him to keep him there. Reb Nosson once said that the evil inclination cares less about the sin than about the depression that follows it, because, by means of the depression, it can further trap the individual and gain much more than from the first single sin. All the while, this person thinks his depression is a mitzvah, a show of regret over the past. What he doesn’t realize is that being depressed is itself the ultimate sin.
And so our Sages say that one should never become depressed, even in the face of serious transgressions. What should he do to live? “If he read one page, let him read two. . .” He should cling to the words of Torah, which are “life to those who find them” (Mishlei 4:22). Through this, he will be saved from all the tricks of the evil inclination and repent out of true longing and desire for God, like a child who has offended his father. He will not rectify his sin through depression and despair, God forbid, but through joy and life.
Torah Study is the Only Solution
It says in Likutey Moharan: “When a person studies Torah out loud, the words shed light on all those areas in which he needs to do teshuva. As the Talmud says: ‘They are life to those who find them.’ Do not read the word moseihem – those who find them – but as motsi’ehem – those who enunciate them (Eiruvin 54a). Likewise it says: ‘Open your mouth and your words will shine’ (Brochot 22a. See Likutey Moharan I:11).”
Rabbi Nachman once said, “I would like to establish a firm rule that every person learn a certain amount of Torah each day, no matter what. The power of the Torah is so great that even those far from holiness and accustomed to their sins, can be redeemed. If they made sure to study a certain amount every day, without fail, the Torah would certainly save them”(Sichot HaRan 19).
Medicine for the Soul
It is written in Avot d’Rabbi Nosson: Rabbi Chanina, chief of the priest, said, “Whoever puts the words of Torah on his heart will save himself from morbid, foolish and empty thoughts, from fear of famine and slavery, and from illicit desires and adulterous fantasies. As it is written: ‘The statutes of the Lord are upright, rejoicing the heart; the commandments of the Lord are pure, enlightening the eyes’ (Tehillim 19:9)” (Avot d’Rabbi Nosson 2:1).
The holy Zohar says: “The Torah teaches a person how to go in the path of truth. It advises him how to return to his Creator. Even if a death sentence is hanging over him – it is annulled” (Zohar 3:260a).
Torah Absolves Sin
If further says, “When a person rises at night to study Torah, the Torah reveals to him all his sins; not in a harsh way, but like a mother who speaks gently to her children. He will not forget what she told him and will return in teshuva to his Master” (Ibid. 3:23b).
The very study of Torah brings atonement, as the Zohar says, “Whoever toils in Torah is considered to have offered all the sacrifices in the world. In addition, the Holy One forgives all his sins” (Ibid. 3:260a).
(Used with permission from the author. From the book “In all my Ways” Keren Ohr Publications)
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