Page 441 - EFI-RAV ZILBERSTIN_VOL 8.EFI-RAV ZILBERSTIN_VOL 8.1A

Pg: 441 - 14-Front 21-10-31

This idea is actually alluded to in our holy language, as I have seen
– I believe quoted in the name of the Shelah. The letters of the word
chaver (ches, beis and reish), can be arranged in several ways: b’char
(choose), chaver (friend), rachav (broad), cherev (sword) and b’rach
(run away). The message these words convey is, b’char chaver (choose
a friend), but if you don’t choose well, be aware that sometimes he can
become a cherev (sword), so b’rach (run away).

The first recommendation is therefore to separate them but wisely,
not with coercion. In my opinion, it is even permitted to take them
away from Eretz Yisrael to a country abroad with the goal of separat-
ing them from each other and it is good for a man to be away from
the place of the sin. There is precedent for this in the Torah’s account
of Yosef who was rewarded for fleeing from the place where Potifar’s
wife was and because “he left his garment and fled and went outside
(Bereishis 39:12). His reward was that the sea split before him [i.e. be-
fore the coffin containing his bones] (Medrash Rabbah, 87) – “What
ails you, sea that you flee?” (Tehillim 114:5). His having fled was good
for him and good for everyone, for it was a difficult situation.

2. Repeated exposure to intelligent people is extremely helpful.
Chazal spoke about the power of propaganda, which was exploited
by Herod, as follows:

Herod is known to have been a slave who rebelled against the
Hasmonean dynasty and killed them all, on account of which he and
his rule were scorned by the entire population. Chazal tell us that
he recruited tens of thousands of Greeks and trained them to cry,
“Kiri, kiri [‘King, king,’ in Greek,]” and had them stand in front of his
palace. They continued these cries for years, with the goal of getting
the people to absorb the message that he was king.

Chazal therefore choose this method, having them keep company
with scholars and when they hear words of wisdom, they will absorb
these lessons. The Torah therefore commands us to “repeatedly re-
buke” a sinner (Vayikra 19:17) – ‘even a thousand times’ because it is
possible that the first nine hundred and ninety nine times the words

Gender Change to Prevent Suicide 2 425