Daily Tanya – Chapter 24 Part 2: A sinner is like an unfaithful wife who is overtaken by a spirit of folly (Monday, 15th Shevat)

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  1. A sinner is like an unfaithful wife who is overtaken by a spirit of folly:
  • On the verse, “when a man’s wife sways from him [i.e. infidelity],” the sages state that a person does not commit a sin unless a spirit of folly has overtaken him. The reason for this is as follows:
  • Even an adulterous wife can overcome her lusts if not for the spirit of folly: Even a woman who is lightheaded and adulterous is capable of overcoming and controlling her lusts if not for the spirit of folly that overcomes her.
  • She would be willing to give up her life for G-d: She too contains a hidden love for G-d within her G-dly soul which has complete faith in G-d and desires to attach to His unity and not be separated from His unity G-d forbid, even on expense of them taking her soul, such as if they threaten her to serve idolatry she would give up her life rather than do so. In fact, she would be willing to give up her life to even simply not prostrate herself to idolatry, even though in her heart she remains faithful to G-d.
  • The spirit of folly conceals this love: Why then does she sin against G-d and her husband in the adulterous relationship? If she’s even willing to give up her life for G-d’s unity then certainly she can quash and control her lust and passion for promiscuity which is much less of a suffering then is death, may G-d protect us. Why then does she not do so? This is due to the spirit of folly which conceals and hides this love for G-d.
  • Spirit of folly confuses her into thinking that the sin doesn’t separate her from G-d: Likewise, the spirit of folly causes her to falsely differentiate between the prohibition against adultery and the prohibition to prostrate to idolatry [in which she tells herself that she will remain united with G-d despite her sin of adultery], as in truth there is no difference as both of these sins separate her from G-d.
  • The spirit of folly covers over the G-dly soul up until the level of Chochma: This spirit of folly derives from the side of Kelipa which garbs the G-dly soul up until the level of Chochma of the soul [and is hence able to convince her that she will remain connected to G-d despite her sin]. However, the spirit of folly does not reach this level of Chochma which remains unconcealed by the spirit of folly due to the light of G-d that shines within it [and hence is not able to convince her to transgress the sin of idolatry]. However, in truth even one who transgresses a light sin, transgresses the will of G-d and is found in a state of complete separation from G-d’s unity even more than the side of evil and Kelipa which is referred to as a foreign G-d and actual idolatry.

 

  1. A sinner is worse than all of the impure creatures:
  • The separation from G-d that a sin creates for a Jew is even worse than the separation of all the creations in this world that receive their sustenance from the side of evil, such as the impure animals and birds and all of the reptiles and insects.
  • Worse than a gnat and wild carnivores: It is due to this that our sages teach us that even the gnat was created before man [as it is possible for man to become even worse than the gnat]. The reason for emphasizing the gnat is because a gnat is the ultimate creation from the side of evil being that it only consumes and does not expel and is hence most utterly distanced from the side of holiness which is all about giving. When a man sins, then the gnat is even higher than him on the chain descent of energy from the Divine will. He is certainly worse than all of the other impure animals including even the wild carnivorous animals.
  • Animals do not stray from their G-dly purpose and instructions: The reason for why a sinner is even worse than the above wild animals and creatures is because they do not change from the nature that G-d invested within them, and the G-dly instructions for these creatures is guarded by their souls, as even though they do not consciously recognize this, their soul root does consciously see it.
  • Animals fear man: An example of this can be seen from the fact that Scripture states that the fear of man will be felt upon all animals of the earth, on which the sages state that a wild animal does not have control over a person unless the person likewise appears to them as an animal. However, those who are Tzadikim, who retain the image of G-d on their faces, all of the wild animals subordinate and subjugate themselves before them, as explained in the Zohar regarding the story of Daniel who left unscathed from a den of lions.
  • A sinner is worse in the above animals: Accordingly, it is understood that a sinner who transgresses the will of G-d, even if it is a light sin, at the time of the sin he is found in the ultimate state of separation from the supernal holiness, which is the unity of G-d. He is more separate from G-d than all of the impure animals and creatures and insects which come from the side of evil and Kelipa of idolatry.

Topic

Description

Sinner and Spirit of Folly

A sinner is like an unfaithful wife overtaken by a spirit of folly; a person does not commit a sin unless a spirit of folly has overtaken them.

Adulterous Wife’s Potential

Even an adulterous wife can overcome her lusts if not for the spirit of folly; she contains a hidden love for G-d within her G-dly soul.

Willingness to Sacrifice

She would give up her life for G-d rather than serve idolatry, even to not prostrate to idolatry, remaining faithful to G-d in her heart.

Spirit of Folly’s Effect

The spirit of folly conceals her love for G-d, causing her to sin and falsely differentiate between adultery and idolatry.

Level of Chochma

The spirit of folly garbs the G-dly soul up to the level of Chochma, but does not reach Chochma due to the light of G-d.

Separation from G-d

Transgressing any sin, even a light one, results in complete separation from G-d’s unity, worse than the side of evil and Kelipa.

Sinner vs. Impure Creatures

The separation from G-d a sin creates is worse than that of impure animals, birds, reptiles, insects, and even a gnat.

Gnat as Example

The gnat is the ultimate creation from the side of evil; when a man sins, the gnat is higher than him in the chain of Divine energy.

Animals and Divine Purpose

Animals do not stray from their G-dly purpose; their soul root consciously sees G-dly instructions, even if they do not.

Animals Fear Man

A wild animal does not have control over a person unless the person appears as an animal; Tzadikim retain the image of G-d and animals subordinate to them.

Sinner’s Status

A sinner is more separate from G-d than all impure animals and creatures, found in the ultimate state of separation from supernal holiness.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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