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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 The rabbis taught: The verse, “You shall not defile
Heaven forbid! purify him. And this is taught explicitly in the wonderful words of yourselves with them, that you should become unclean
the Sefat Emet (Kedoshim 5632): “How can flesh and blood be through them” (Leviticus 11:43), means that if a person
We must know that there are spiritual laws and that everything is sanctified? Only when a person has the will and yearning for that.” defiles himself a little, they defile him a great deal. If he
overseen by complete individual providence. Thus, when a person Again, what is the meaning of “will”? It means that a person sets defiles himself from below, they defile him from above.
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. If he defiles himself in this world, they defile him in the
help a person, that is we will learn), because he is flouting the laws. world-to-come.
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 Our rabbis taught: The verse, “You shall sanctify
evil inclination. A law of nature dictates that we cannot overcome says, “Sanctify yourself with what is permitted to you” (Yevamot yourselves and you shall be holy” (ibid. 44), means that
the evil inclination without Hashem helping us, whatever we might 20a). Even if a person eats only kosher food, if he gives free rein when a person sanctifies himself a little, they sanctify him
do. Thus, if a person does not dedicate himself to learning about to his cravings, he is called “a sordid person within the parameters a great deal. When he sanctifies himself from below, they
the laws of life, nothing will help him. of the Torah” (Ramban on Kedoshim). From the words of the Sefat sanctify him from above. When he sanctifies himself in
Emet, we learn: how is it possible to sanctify oneself? Only by this world, they sanctify him in the world-to-come.
Applying Ourselves in the Proper Areas means of the work of the will.
What is the meaning of “if a person comes to purify himself…”?
That being the case, even though a person’s physical and spiritual This is not speaking about a person who is already purified, but a
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 person who no more than intends to be purified. Already at that
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 stage, he is helped from heaven to actualize his good intentions.
Isaiah says, “Withdraw yourselves from man, whose breath is in
and far from holiness, purity and good traits—he realizes that he Here too we must read the Gemara carefully, as did the Maharsha.
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 The Gemara states, “They open … They help … They purify …”—
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 in the plural. The Ritva (who lived about 700 years ago) explains
you temporary peace of mind—but even that is questionable. It is that those who “assist him” are the angels: “If he sanctifies himself
not a fundamental and root solution. It is not an essential change. the way of nature so as to become unlimited, because Hashem is from below, the holy angels sanctify him from above. Similarly, the
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 Gemara in Makkot says, ‘In the way that a person wishes to go, he
addresses the symptoms and not the core of the problem. about? Therefore, a person’s true will changes nature! is led,’ and the Gemara in Yoma says, ‘When a person comes to be
purified, they assist him.’ Both of those sources are based on the
Do you have difficulties? Do you struggle? That is a part of life. They Open the Way for Him same verse, ‘If [a person goes] in the direction of scoffing, there
Do you have cravings? That is your nature. You were created to will be scoffing; [if he goes] to humility, he evokes grace.’”
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 From this Gemara quote, we may learn about the principle being
do all that you want—and you will feel that you are climbing up the power of the will is extraordinarily strong. Therefore, many discussed here that a person does not have the power to sanctify
a smooth wall, progressing a little and then returning exactly to times we see that “the way of the wicked succeeds” (Jeremiah 12:1). himself, because physicality and cravings are embedded within him.
where you started out from, until in the end you despair of the Such people succeed in their evil because their evil intentions create The person’s physicality and coarse body with its cravings prevent
work entirely. That is because you are attempting to go on the destructive angels that help them go on their way. In particular, we him from being spiritual and holy. Holiness is transcendent, a change
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 of nature. A person needs a great deal of heavenly assistance to be
whereas the Gemara testifies that this is not in your hands. You are cravings constitute a very great and powerful will—these people sanctified, and the way to receive this help is to want. Thus, the
dedicating yourself to a hopeless struggle. Understand clearly that sole way for a person to be truly sanctified is to engage his will
to be sanctified. If a person wants, they will sanctify him; if he