Self-Rescue

Especially in this generation, with its electronic toxins of computers, internet, iPhones and the like, a person is in grave danger. Religious court judges have told me stories of divorces among observant couples because the husband has become involved in electronic filth, descending to an abyss that’s downright disgusting, Heaven forbid. The more the handheld gadgets become available, the more people are exposed to imminent danger. No wonder rabbinical leaders have been yelling at the top of their lungs against such things as internet and iPhones, where the worst imaginable soul-destroying content is available at the touch of a finger. If one doesn’t make a concerted effort to save himself, he is liable to sink in the worst and deepest mire.

Anyone who decides to rid himself of lust – even if he feels that he is not making progress for the time being – the fact that he is making effort is enough to save him from sinking. Someone who makes no effort – even though he doesn’t feel that he’s sinking – is nonetheless in grave danger, for sooner or later, the evil inclination will ensnare him. Daily, we hear horror stories about people who were apparently upright members of the observant community who did terrible things, all connected with their initial lack of caution in avoiding and overcoming the temptations of sexual lust.

Ridding oneself of sexual lust is the basis of Judaism. The generation of the desert, who saw Hashem split the Red Sea and give the Torah on Mount Sinai, made the tragic mistake of the Golden Calf because they wanted to allow themselves forbidden sexual relationships. They also exhibited uncontrolled bodily appetites and their lust for food when they expressed discontent with the manna and demanded meat. They spoke slander about Moses. We consequently see that even if a holy generation doesn’t make a serious effort to rid themselves of bodily appetites and lust, they will make tragic mistakes.

So what can we say about our generation? No wonder people speak against tzaddikim and do the worst things in the name of “mitzvot”. Anyone who doesn’t rid himself of lust is also liable to make himself a golden calf. He’ll steal and then claim that he did a good deed. He’ll assassinate another person’s character if it helps him earn a dollar, all because he hasn’t rid himself of lust. Lust has become so rampant that the abnormal has become society’s norm. The prophet Isaiah therefore said that anyone who disdains evil in the final generation before Mashiach will be considered insane (see Isaiah 59:15).

We should contemplate the core reason of all the episodes of the Children of Israel’s crying and complaining in the desert. The Torah wants us to learn from their mistakes. Suppose we want to judge them leniently and say that they were newly-freed slaves; why make demands on them? Even so, the Torah stresses their disgruntlement, for Hashem showed them miracles and loving-kindness that defied nature. They ate Heaven-sent bread. They always had fresh spring water in the desert. They enjoyed Divine climate control under the Cloud of Glory all year long. Their clothes were always clean and pressed. Their sandals were always in good repair. The children’s clothes grew with them. They were protected from snakes, scorpions and wild animals. They saw the Divine Presence hover over the Holy Tabernacle. They saw Moses and heard Torah from his mouth. Yet they still found reason to complain. Why? They didn’t rid themselves of lust and bodily appetites.

The world is getting even worse. There’s no other alternative – either a person connects with Hashem and holiness, or lust and bodily appetites will subdue him. Accordingly, one’s main task is to overcome lust, for without it, he won’t be able to connect to Hashem and holiness.

This generation has seen unspeakable tragedies. When the fires of lust, so readily fanned by all the destructive influences that surround people today, begin to rage within a person, they destroy everything – marriage, livelihood and one’s inner peace. Such a person turns his back on all the good that Hashem gives him in order to partake of deadly forbidden fruit.

Personal holiness depends on joy, but a person can’t be happy as long as he’s drowning in bodily lust. He won’t feel gratitude as long as he hasn’t overcome his physical appetites. Prayer, especially personal prayer, is not effective without joy. The happier a person is, the easier it is for him to pour his heart out to Hashem. All of our resolve to better ourselves and to strive for personal holiness depends on maintaining a healthy attitude of optimism and joy. To paraphrase Isaiah 55:12: By way of joy, a person can find his way out of any difficulty, physical or spiritual, and connect with Hashem.