Many students gathered to study and learn from Tam and Chacham. One day the students asked about the Yetzer haRa – Evil Inclination, it seemed that everyone had their own understanding. Tam and Chacham entered the Beis Medresh (House of Study) and saw that the students, who had been talking busily, qieted down and looked towards their teachers. Chacham asked, “What were you talking about?”
“Rabbi,” they said, “we were saying how afraid we are that the Evil Inclination will pursue us.”
Chacham started to explain, “The principle that man has absolute free will to choose between good and evil, is a foundation of our faith, as it is written, ‘I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your children may live’ ” (Deuteronomy 30:19) (Moreh Nevuchim 3:17)
Tam added, “Man makes a harness for his beast; all the more should he make one for the beast within himself, his Evil Inclination.” (Yerushalmi Sanhedrin 10.1)
The students looked at one another as they thought on the words of their teachers. Those distractions of the Evil Inclination that pulled people away from study of the Holy Books and living by example.
Chacham reminded the students that “the Evil Inclination lures man in this world, then testifies against him in the World to Come.” (Succah 52a)
He pause for a moment and continued, “None can can be called saint before death, for none can be trusted to win against the Evil Inclination till the end of life.” (Midrash Tehillim 16.2)
Tam shared that “Without the Yetzer haRa (Evil Inclination), no man would build a house, take a wife, have children and engage in work.” (Genesis Rabbah 9.7)
He continued, “That the Evil Inclination can be directed to good causes, but it takes a lot of faith and study.”
Chacham spoke up and said, “Don’t worry, none of have not gotten high enough for it to pursue you, For the time being, you are still pursuing it.”
May it be Your will, O Eternal our G-d and G-d of our ancestors …. to break the yoke of the Evil Inclination in our hearts. (Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachos 4.2)
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)