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We are all very familiar with the fact that in order to receive a other sweets, the craving for eating takes hold of him, he cannot
university degree a person must spend a number of years learning control himself, and he forgets about all of the dangers. He does
and receiving training. A person with only a slight understanding not see the doctors, he does not see his situation, he does not see
of healing is not called a doctor; a person with only a slight the grave results of his actions, he does not see all of his friends
understanding of law is not called a lawyer. A person must make and relatives who died from diabetes or who suffer terribly from
a long-term investment, and only after he proceeds on the entire the disease. He does not see anything. He only wants to satisfy his
path does he receive his degree and title. In academic learning, not craving. And after he does so, he is sensible of the evil inclination
everyone is accepted into the program and not everyone receives having deceived him, and he views himself as lacking character and
the title. And even a person who has a title will not necessarily find lacking self-control. Nevertheless, in the next test, when craving
work. But in the work of the will, everyone is equal and everyone again surges up within him, he forgets everything. Again and again,
attains the goal! “Hashem is close to all who call out to Him” (Psalms he falls prey to his craving. And so it is with all cravings and with
145:18). Whoever commits himself to engage in a daily meeting all addictions.
with the Creator of the world and does so steadily, every day, will
certainly receive the title, whoever he may be, and he will succeed In our generation, the craving for eating has grown extremely
in being led until he reaches his place and his purpose. powerful. One of the plagues of the generation is the obesity that
results in a profusion of problems of body and soul: diabetes, heart
To Bring about a Change problems, spiritual difficulties and impaired functionality. People
are so broken, depressed and hopeless that they are beguiled by the
magical nostrums of all sorts of diets. Many charlatans exploit this
This is a point that is very important to internalize. Ask any
person, “Do you want to know and keep the entire Torah?” He will situation in order to grow rich at the expense of these unfortunate
people, and sell them preparations and books. All of these lead
tell you, “Yes, certainly.” “Do you want a holy mouth, holy eyes, them astray, because there is no magic solution. All there is here
to be constantly joyful, to have good traits and be at peace? Do
you want to stop smoking?” Yes, certainly. Everyone wants these is the craving of the evil inclination—which, the Gemara testifies,
a person lacks the power to overcome. If a person does not learn
things. Then why doesn’t everyone succeed? There is a spiritual
principle, a spiritual law, that a person is led in the way that he the principles and perform the work described in this book, nothing
will help him.
wants to go. That law never changes! If so, why doesn’t everyone
succeed in learning and keeping the entire Torah? Why doesn’t The final surrender to the craving for eating is bariatric surgery,
everyone attain all of the highest spiritual levels? an operation that reduces the size of the stomach. That is the stage
at which the sufferer has thrown up his hands in despair. After so
Without a doubt, these people simply do not possess sufficient will.
Every intention is important and precious, but not every intention many failed attempts, he finally reaches the Gemara’s conclusion
can bring about a change, because not every intent triggers the that he lacks the power to overcome his evil inclination. But he
only learns half of the conclusion, because the other half is that “if
spiritual principle that “in the way that a person wishes to go, he not for the fact that the Holy One, blessed be He, helps him, he
is led.” In order to be led from heaven, a person must earn the
title of “wants.” And in order to attain that title, he must set aside could not overcome it.” He only realizes half of the truth—that by
himself he does not have the power to succeed—and he thus tries
time every day to apply his will. That is the point that we must
understand and implement. That is the tool by means of which to overcome his craving by force, by eliminating his ability to make
choices via an operation to reduce the size of his stomach.
everyone can be said to “want” and to be a “master of will.” Then
heaven leads him. As a result, he will truly change within. It makes When people consult me about whether to undergo this