ALWAYS ON GUARD
The tzaddik Reb Nochum of Chernobyl lived in acute poverty. Once a chossid brought him a gift of 300 gold rubles, and the gabbai, who also oversaw the needs of the home, was glad that the heavy debts would finally be paid up. When this chossid left Reb Nochum’s room, tens of other chassidim had their turn, until they stopped in order to daven Maariv. After Maariv the tzaddik closeted himself in his room for a while and then opened the door, asking to see a certain chossid who had been at yechidus earlier. After the chossid left, the tzaddik continued receiving chassidim late into the night.
After all the chassidim had left, the gabbai entered the Rebbe’s room to request some money, having already listed the amount he would pay each creditor. Reb Nochum opened the drawer in which he kept the money that had been given for his personal use, and the gabbai was stunned to see only a few silver and copper coins. There was no sign of the 300 rubles.
The tzaddik told him to take all the coins, a total of 100 rubles, but the gabbai remained rooted to his place, downcast but unable to say anything. The tzaddik asked him why he looked so sad. After all, HaShem had sent them money. At this point, the gabbai was no longer able to contain himself and asked about the 300 rubles.
The Rebbe replied, “When I received the money I wondered why I had merited such a sum. So when one of the chassidim told me about his utter lack of funds for tuition, rent, and his daughter’s wedding, it dawned on me that HaShem had given me the special zechus of supporting this Yid. In fact, the amount he needed totaled the exact amount that I had received. However, after I had decided to give the 300 rubles to this chossid, another thought came to my mind: ‘Why give so much money to one person, when it can be divided between six families?’
“Faced with the dilemma of these two options, I closed myself in my room. After thinking it through, I came to the conclusion that the second idea, to divide the money among a number of families, did not come from the yetzer tov, for then it would have entered my mind immediately. Only after I had thought of the mitzva, did this thought come along to trick me.” Reb Nochum concluded, “I fulfilled the advice of the yetzer tov and gave the chossid the entire 300 rubles.”
Upon relating this story, the Frierdiker Rebbe added: “From this we see how important is discernment, always knowing from where a thought is coming. And this discernment can be acquired only by working on oneself.”
(סה"ש תש"ג ע' 67)
The Rebbe applied this concept: “If one is aroused to help another or to spread Yiddishkeit, he must evaluate: If he had been conversing idly, then this inspiration is coming from the yetzer tov. However, if this arousal came to mind specifically during his learning, then it is not coming from kedusha... Likewise, if during davening, one is suddenly inspired to distribute Siddurim or to watch someone else daven, he should know that at that particular time this is an inappropriate activity.”
(תו"מ חל"ו ע' 305)
CLEVERLY COUNTERING
Shlomo HaMelech writes that one should use clever strategies when waging war against the yetzer hara. Some record this as a mitzva midivrei kabbala, that is, an obligation derived from Nach.
(משלי כ"ד,ו', ס' חרדים פל"ה אות ב', ברכות י"ז ע"א ורש"י)
In this spirit, Chazal teach us to always use all kinds of sly tactics in order to attain a fear of HaShem.
Dovid HaMelech said to HaShem, “Ribbono shel Olam! Every morning upon awakening, I would plan aloud, ‘Today I will visit some place or someone’s home,’ and then I would direct my feet to the beis midrash, thereby tricking the yetzer hara and not allowing him to distract me.”
(ברכות י"ז ע"א, רש"י, בן יהוידע, ילקוט תהלים תת"צ)
The tzaddik, Reb Naftali of Ropshitz, was known for his quick wit. One day his Rebbe, the Chozeh of Lublin, challenged him: “Isn’t it written in the Torah that one should be simple and straightforward (‘tamim’) in his avodas HaShem?” The talmid replied, “To reach the level of temimus, one must first have wisdom, as our chachomim instructed – to be clever in yiras Shamayim.”
(דור דעה ע' רל"ז)
The Frierdiker Rebbe once said that a person should use the cleverness of Torah, and especially of Chassidus, to recognize and counter the slyness of the yetzer hara.
(סה"ש תרצ"ו ע' 223)
Towards the end of one of his personal fasts, the tzaddik, Reb Dovid of Lelov, was out on the road and felt an extreme thirst. Suddenly, noticing a spring of cool bubbling water, his thirst intensified to the point that he was about to break his fast and drink. He stood still for a moment to consider the matter and found strength within himself to overcome his burning thirst. Continuing on his way, he felt a great rush of joy, for he had succeeded in subjugating his yetzer hara! However, a moment later he said to himself, “This joy is not coming from the yetzer tov, but from the yetzer hara. He’s trying to get me to be filled with pride!” To avoid falling into the trap, Reb Dovid returned to the spring and drank his fill.
(סיפורי חסידים זוין תורה ע' 527)
When some people tried to bring proof from the Torah that children should be taught worldly matters at a young age, the Rebbe disputed their claim, explained their misunderstanding, and added, “One should not be fazed when someone quotes a Torah source to prove something which is known to be wrong. It must be recognized that within this pious ‘silk cloak’ hides the yetzer hara.”
(תו"מ חכ"ז ע' 103)
CONSIDER
- How can a positive inspiration be not good?
- How can we identify it when it is presented with holy reasoning?
- How does Chassidus and avoda make one more perceptive of the yetzer hara’s tactics?
