We can now resolve our inquiry as to which letter HKB”H used to create the world. Indeed, initially, before Adam HaRishon sinned and had an internal yetzer hara, HKB”H opted to use the letter ב'. That was because this letter is closed on three sides and is only open on the left, which is its north side. As we know from the passuk (Yirmiyah 1, 14): "מצפון תפתח הרעה"—from the north the evil will be released—the yetzer hara and its evil forces have access from the north. They have no access from the other three sides unless a person falls into its trap and allows them to enter.
Now, let us consider the shape of the letter ב' with which the world was initially created. Its lower line constitutes a barrier preventing a person from falling easily and descending to the spiritual depths. In a sense, a person is standing on firm, solid ground. Thus, he need only heed that the yetzer hara not be allowed to enter from the open, left side of the letter “Beis.” This is in stark contrast to the shape of the letter ה', which is open below, suggesting that a person can easily fall through this opening.
A person can protect himself and prevent the yetzer hara from entering through the left side of the “Beis” by studying Torah assiduously. For, as we have learned in the Gemara (Kiddushin 30b), HKB”H said to Yisrael: "בני בראתי יצר הרע ובראתי לו תורה תבלין, ואם אתם עוסקים בתורה אין אתם נמסרים בידו"—My son, I have created the yetzer hara, and I have created Torah as its antidote. If you engage in Torah-study, you will not be delivered into its hand. In other words, Torah-study is a bona-fide, proven method for warding off the yetzer hara and its negative influences.
Let us elaborate. As we know, the letter “vav” of the name Havaya alludes to the holy Torah. Hence, Torah she’b’al peh consists of six orders, the gematria of the letter “vav.” Thus, when a person studies Torah, represented by the letter “vav” (a straight line, like a board), he is able to close and board up the open left side of the letter “Beis,” and deny the yetzer hara access.
This explains magnificently why HKB”H began Torah she’b’chtav with the “Beis” of "בראשית" and concluded Torah she’b’al peh with the closed “mem” of "בשלום". [As we learn in the Mishnah at the end of Masechet Oktzin: "לא מצא הקב"ה כלי מחזיק ברכה אלא השלום, שנאמר ה' עוז לעמו יתן ה' יברך את עמו בשלום"—HKB”H did not find a vessel better suited for preserving berachah for Yisrael than “shalom,” as it states (Tehillim 29, 11): “Hashem will give His nation strength; Hashem will bless His nation with shalom.”] By means of Torah-study, we close the open left side of the letter “Beis,” so that it resembles the closed letter “mem”—ם'. Thus, we prevent the yetzer hara from entering.
We can suggest an allusion to this in the first passage of Kriat Shema. There we find the words (Devarim 6, 7): "ודברת בם"—and you shall speak of them—ב"ם. We can interpret this as saying: You should engage in the study of Torah from the beginning of Torah she’b’chtav—the “Beis” of "בראשית"—until the end of Torah she’b’al peh—the closed “mem” of "בשלום"—the combination of the two letters of ב"ם.
Accordingly, we can better appreciate the profound words of our blessed sages in the following Gemara (ibid.): "תנא דבי רבי ישמעאל, בני אם פגע בך מנוול זה משכהו לבית המדרש"—a Baraita was taught in the Academy of Rabbi Yishmael: If this despicable character engages you, draw him into the Beis Midrash. The “despicable character” under discussion is the yetzer hara; to disarm it and avoid it, we are advised to draw it into the letter בי"ת—alluded to by the Beis Midrash, where we engage in Torah-study. There it cannot survive, as we have learned (Kiddushin 30b): "אם אבן הוא נימוח, אם ברזל הוא מתפוצץ"—if he is like a stone, he will dissolve; if he is like iron, he will shatter.
This was the situation prior to the cheit of Adam HaRishon; the yetzer hara had not yet invaded his physical being. This is also how it will be le’atid la’vo, after the yetzer hara’s existence will be terminated. The situation changed, however, after Adam sinned by eating from the Eitz HaDa’at. That enabled the yetzer hara to invade his body and take up residence in his heart. Consequently, the floor of the letter “Beis” that prevented him from falling to the spiritual depths—“she’ol”—was thoroughly shattered. His being and essence related to the universe created with the letter “Beis”—which is closed below—was corrupted.
Notwithstanding, HKB”H had mercy on Adam and provided him with a means of tikun via teshuvah. HKB”H renewed the world with the letter “hei” by moving the bottom line of the “Beis” and standing it upright on the left side of the letter. Thus, the “Beis” was transformed into a “hei.” Thus, the world was created anew to accommodate the fact that man now had an internal yetzer hara residing in his heart. As such, he would be much more likely to sin, chas v’shalom, and fall to “she’ol” through the opening at the bottom of the “hei.” Yet, all was not lost! Man was afforded the opportunity of tikun via teshuvah by climbing up spiritually and reentering the healthy world of life through the aperture at the upper left side of the letter ה'. In conclusion, both viewpoints represent divine truth. Indeed, the world was originally created with the letter “Beis” to prepare for the future geulah, when the world will be managed based on “midat hadin,” without the interference of the yetzer hara. After Adam HaRishon sinned, however, the creation of the world was renewed with the letter “hei” to provide mankind with a means of tikun via the process of teshuvah.
