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and not another? Is it the luck of the draw? Is it mere happenstance? wants, they will nullify all of his physicality; if he wants, they will
Heaven forbid! purify him. And this is taught explicitly in the wonderful words of
the Sefat Emet (Kedoshim 5632): “How can flesh and blood be
We must know that there are spiritual laws and that everything is sanctified? Only when a person has the will and yearning for that.”
overseen by complete individual providence. Thus, when a person Again, what is the meaning of “will”? It means that a person sets
proceeds in accordance with these laws and sets aside time to make aside time for the work of the will—i.e., he engages in prayer for
use of them (as we, Hashem helps him; and if Hashem does not what he wants for a significant amount of time every day.
help a person, that is we will learn), because he is flouting the laws.
He thinks that he can boil water without putting it on the fire—but This idea can be a source of great encouragement for all of those
that contravenes the laws of nature. The same idea applies to the who have fallen into the craving of unhealthy eating. The Torah
evil inclination. A law of nature dictates that we cannot overcome says, “Sanctify yourself with what is permitted to you” (Yevamot
the evil inclination without Hashem helping us, whatever we might 20a). Even if a person eats only kosher food, if he gives free rein
do. Thus, if a person does not dedicate himself to learning about to his cravings, he is called “a sordid person within the parameters
the laws of life, nothing will help him. of the Torah” (Ramban on Kedoshim). From the words of the Sefat
Emet, we learn: how is it possible to sanctify oneself? Only by
Applying Ourselves in the Proper Areas means of the work of the will.
That being the case, even though a person’s physical and spiritual
Therefore, when a person wants to come close to Hashem—and,
in particular, when he sees that his evil inclination rises up against capabilities and possibilities are very limited and constrained, and
him so that he stumbles and falls, or that he is filled with cravings in practical terms he is truly total nothingness—as the prophet
Isaiah says, “Withdraw yourselves from man, whose breath is in
and far from holiness, purity and good traits—he realizes that he
must set aside time to engage in the work of the will. There is no his nostrils, because in what merit is he to be esteemed?” (Isaiah
2:22)—when he wants, he attains the help of heaven, both in the
other solution, no shortcut. Every other sort of advice might give material and in the spiritual realms, receiving infinite powers beyond
you temporary peace of mind—but even that is questionable. It is
not a fundamental and root solution. It is not an essential change. the way of nature so as to become unlimited, because Hashem is
with him—and who will tell Hashem what to do and what to bring
It is like a pill that ameliorates pain or reduces fever, that only
addresses the symptoms and not the core of the problem. about? Therefore, a person’s true will changes nature!
Do you have difficulties? Do you struggle? That is a part of life. They Open the Way for Him
Do you have cravings? That is your nature. You were created to
stand firm in your battles. Know that nothing you do will help. This is also true in a negative sense: a person’s desire for bad
You can invest energy, tear yourself apart, toil, struggle, learn and things creates evil angels that will lead him to those things, because
do all that you want—and you will feel that you are climbing up the power of the will is extraordinarily strong. Therefore, many
a smooth wall, progressing a little and then returning exactly to times we see that “the way of the wicked succeeds” (Jeremiah 12:1).
where you started out from, until in the end you despair of the Such people succeed in their evil because their evil intentions create
work entirely. That is because you are attempting to go on the destructive angels that help them go on their way. In particular, we
path of “my power and the might of my hand” (Deuteronomy 8:17), see that when cravings blaze in lustful and sinful people—and such
whereas the Gemara testifies that this is not in your hands. You are cravings constitute a very great and powerful will—these people
dedicating yourself to a hopeless struggle. Understand clearly that
