They Are Cheering You On

The secret is out of the bag; we are not perfect people. When we slip up and commit small transgressions, aveirot, we often fall victim to chalking these up to “no big deals.” What we fail to realize is that the congenital inclination to do evil and violate the word of Hashem, it is our yetzer hara constantly scheming new tactics for us to fall into a trap and announce, “I got you!”

It is incumbent on us to understand that the yetzer hara has a plan to defeat us. If we forget to take notice of our enemies, then we will eventually fall victim. One way an individual can beat these challenges, nisyonot, is to always remember that all eyes are on you when you are faced with a test. This means that everyone up in heaven, shamayim, is rooting for you to pass the task with flying colors.

The Talmud relates, when one is attacked with a nisayon from the yetzer hara, you should know that all your family are surveilling over you in shamayim; i.e. your grandparents, great grandparents, as well as our forefathers and foremothers, and all the righteous sages of yesteryear, who are praying to Hashem on your behalf for a passing score.

The yetzer hara is not a demonic force that thrusts a person towards evil, but rather a drive in the direction of pleasure, property, or security, which if left limitless, can lead to sinful acts. When properly controlled by good inclinations, the yetzer hatov; the yetzer hara, is in turn led on the path of many socially desirable outcomes, including those in family and business.

Remember, many people are rooting for you to overcome your evil inclinations. So, when you realize that every time you are confronted with a test, all of the heavens are not only watching, but depending on you. Your actions do make a difference and will ultimately result in you having an easier time defeating the yetzer hara.

Full classes from Rabbi Rahimi can be viewed on www.torahanytime.com.

 By Rabbi Yaakov Rahimi