Some of Chazal say that the עֵץ הַדַעַת Etz HaDaas was an Esrog. Onkelos describes the tree she ate from as: ג ר יג which means “desired”. Is this the Esrog that everybody is running after, to get the prettiest one for Chag HaSukkos? A fruit that symbolizes sin should be so popular and coveted?? And of the 4 Minim, the Esrog represents the Talmid Chochom, since it has both good fragrance (symbolizing: ש ע מַים טו ב good deeds) and good flavor (symbolizing Torah). Look at everybody in shul priding themselves and doing a Mitzva with the worst fruit in the history of mankind!
The cause of all the Tzaros of the world! The Rambam says that it’s much better to be a person with a big Yetzer Hara, who is full of lust to do evil yet he controls himself; and the Rambam quotes Chazal who say this Yesod. The person with a weak Yetzer Hara is a zero compared to the Baal Ta'ava’nik who controls himself.
So our best friend is our wicked tendencies; for anger, and jealousy, and our “scary” Ta'avos. And all our weaknesses and mental blocks that cause so much pain, and can even make us somewhat dysfunctional in Avodas Hashem. By the way, feeling inferior and getting depressed and anxious without having Bitachon, is also a form of the wicked: עֵץ הַדַעַת Etz HaDaas.
Chazal say: אֵין א ד ם עומֵד עַל ד בְרֵי תור ה אֶל א א ם כֵן נ כְשַ ל ב הֶן תְח ל ה גיטין מג א A person cannot truly succeed in Torah unless he has first slipped and messed up. Consider all your “struggles” the: נִכְשַ ל תְחִלָ ה “mess” that you will someday overcome. The Sefer HaMaspik says that the main Bitachon is Ruchaniyus. This is your delicious Esrog, and for good reason the Esrog is so special; it also represents all your Nisyonos, like difficult spouses and children that you have to live with.
They will make you great! So thank Hashem for them, and buy the most gorgeous Esrog that you can! How I love my Nisyonos! (PS. don’t look for trouble!) The Alter of Novardok says that it would potentially be worth running after Nisyonos. From now on no more complaining, even in Ruchaniyus.
