Windows of the Soul
Because of the promiscuity and immodesty that pervade modern life and Western culture, we have become desensitized to lewdness , as if this is the natural...
“Not only is physical contact with women prohibited, gazing at them to enjoy their beauty is also a serious Torah transgression.” (Shulchan Oruch, Even HaEzer, Ch. 300, Section 100:2)
Regarding the Torah commandment, “You shall not go astray after your hearts and after your eyes, (Bamidbar, 15:39) the Talmud explains: “After your hearts – this refers to idolatry. After your eyes – this refers to sexual immorality.” (Berachot 12B)
“The eye and the heart are the two instruments of sin. The eye sees, the heart desires, and the body completes the action.” (Rashi on Bamidbar, 25:39)
Today, because of the promiscuity and immodesty that pervade modern life and Western culture, we have become accustomed to this state of affairs, as if this is the natural way to be. However, Jewish Laws demands a higher level of moral behavior.
“Whoever gazes at a woman forbidden to him, and says to himself that there is nothing wrong with this, for he hasn’t had sexual relations with her, or even touched her, he is mistaken. Gazing at women is a serious wrongdoing, for it brings a man to sexual transgression, as it says, You shall not go astray after your hearts and after your eyes.” (Hilchot Tshuva of the Rambam, 4:4)
The Gemara teaches: “You should guard yourself from every evil thing – this means a man should not gaze on an attractive woman, even a single one, nor upon married woman, even if she is ugly.” (Avodah Zora 20A.)
This is because, “A man shouldn’t have sexual thoughts in the day and come to seminal impurity at night.” (Avodah Zora 20B.)
A person shouldn’t think that he is wiser than the Torah and the great Talmudic rabbis who labored to explain the depth and wisdom of Jewish Law. If he says, “I go to the beach and the movies all the time, and nothing happens to me,” he is tragically mistaken. Gazing at attractive women, whether at the beach, the movies, in provocative magazines, or on the street, causes more damage to the spiritual world of a Jew than eating forbidden foods such as pork. Eating non-kosher foods pollutes the nefesh, the lower physical soul of a man. Gazing at women, however, pollutes the neshama, the Divine soul itself. In doing so, it damages the flow of Divine blessing emanating from the highest spiritual realms.
The eyes are the windows of the soul. The holiness of a Jew is dependent on the degree to which he guards his eyes from looking at forbidden images. When a man sees an immodestly dressed woman or an erotic photograph, his desire is aroused. Automatically, his spiritual world is polluted. Automatically, a soul is released from his brain and joined with a seed of seminal fluid. If he does not sense the spiritual shock to his being, it is because his soul has already become darkened and dulled by his habitual mistakes.
“The moment a man gazes upon a forbidden image, or at a woman whom he is not permitted to look at, a large and frightful kleipah is created by this, along with an evil spirit, each time he looks. Resulting from this, when he has a sexual thought, with every fantasy he violates the Torah prohibition, “And you shall guard yourself from everything evil.” All the more so if, G-d forbid, this thought brings him to a sexual transgression.” (Taharat HaKodesh, Ch. 3)
To be continued
***
(Secret of the Brit is reprinted with kind permission of JewishSexuality.com. Tzvi Fishman was awarded the Israel Ministry of Education Prize for Creativity and Jewish Culture. His books on Judaism and Jewish themes include: “Tuvia in the Promised Land,” “Days of Mashiach,” “The Kuzari For Young Readers,” and four books on the teachings of Rabbi Kook, “Torat Eretz Yisrael,” “War and Peace,” “The Art of T’shuva,” and “Lights on Orot,” co-written with Rabbi David Samson)
Tell us what you think!
Thank you for your comment!
It will be published after approval by the Editor.