Perek 78
Bentzion Meltzer
another opinion says for taking life. [The opinion that says for
coloring means for coloring and not for taking life? No, he means also
for coloring.]”1
The Baal Shem Tov taught:2
We are taught that the evil inclination will be brought to justice in
the Future. The question is how it can be held responsible for doing
what it was created to do? The answer is that it will be brought to
account for disguising itself as the good inclination.3
This is alluded to in the above teaching, “What is the onus for
slaughtering?” This refers to the evil inclination that slaughters
man’s soul. Why is it held responsible, since this is what he was
created to do? The answer is, because it “colors” itself and disguises
as the good inclination, and is thus able to trick man and take his
soul.
This is also alluded to in the verse, “The words of his mouth are evil
and deceit”:4 evil refers to sin, and deceit refers to fooling man
into believing he is doing a good deed. As a result, as the verse
concludes, “He refrains from understanding to improve”; man does not
repent from his “sins,” because he believes them to be good deeds, and
one does not repent from doing good deeds.
1 Tractate Sabbath 75a-b
2 Ben Porath Yoseph 127a
3 If the average person would be confronted by something about which
he was absolutely sure was improper conduct, that he could not justify
to himself, let alone to others, he would not have the temptation to
do it. So the evil inclination fools man into rationalizing away his
negative behavior, denying its true nature, and perceiving it as
impeccable conduct with the noblest motivations.
4 Psalms 36:4
Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Yehoshua Starrett and reprinted
with the kind permission of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation. Please visit
www.baalshemtov.com
Join a class on the Perekim from the Kesser Shem Tov: Shabbos morning
9am in the Shteibel Minyan Beis Medresh
Please spread the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov v'nishmas my parents:
Yoel ben Avrohom and Malka bas Avrohom. May their Neshamas have an
Aliyah
Also, write to Bent...@besht-yomi.org to receive the Teachings of the
Baal Shem Tov in your email inbox, visit and join a discussion group
on the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov at http://groups.google.com/group/teachings_of_the_besht?hl=en
Publicize the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov To Help Bring Moshiach
Right NOW!
Joseph A. Cleary
I stand corrected.
Please do be well.
Do enjoy your time in your Sukka and have a good Shabbis.
Shalom, Shalom, Yosef
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bentzion Meltzer" <bzme...@gmail.com>
To: "Teachings_of_the_Besht" <teachings_o...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2010 7:48 PM
Subject: Perek 78
�What is the onus for slaughtering? One opinion says for coloring, and
another opinion says for taking life. [The opinion that says for
coloring means for coloring and not for taking life? No, he means also
for coloring.]�1
The Baal Shem Tov taught:2
We are taught that the evil inclination will be brought to justice in
the Future. The question is how it can be held responsible for doing
what it was created to do? The answer is that it will be brought to
account for disguising itself as the good inclination.3
This is alluded to in the above teaching, �What is the onus for
slaughtering?� This refers to the evil inclination that slaughters
man�s soul. Why is it held responsible, since this is what he was
created to do? The answer is, because it �colors� itself and disguises
as the good inclination, and is thus able to trick man and take his
soul.
This is also alluded to in the verse, �The words of his mouth are evil
and deceit�:4 evil refers to sin, and deceit refers to fooling man
into believing he is doing a good deed. As a result, as the verse
concludes, �He refrains from understanding to improve�; man does not
repent from his �sins,� because he believes them to be good deeds, and
one does not repent from doing good deeds.
1 Tractate Sabbath 75a-b
2 Ben Porath Yoseph 127a
3 If the average person would be confronted by something about which
he was absolutely sure was improper conduct, that he could not justify
to himself, let alone to others, he would not have the temptation to
do it. So the evil inclination fools man into rationalizing away his
negative behavior, denying its true nature, and perceiving it as
impeccable conduct with the noblest motivations.
4 Psalms 36:4
Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Yehoshua Starrett and reprinted
with the kind permission of the Baal Shem Tov Foundation. Please visit
www.baalshemtov.com
Join a class on the Perekim from the Kesser Shem Tov: Shabbos morning
9am in the Shteibel Minyan Beis Medresh
Please spread the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov v'nishmas my parents:
Yoel ben Avrohom and Malka bas Avrohom. May their Neshamas have an
Aliyah
Also, write to Bent...@besht-yomi.org to receive the Teachings of the
Baal Shem Tov in your email inbox, visit and join a discussion group
on the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov at
http://groups.google.com/group/teachings_of_the_besht?hl=en
Publicize the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov To Help Bring Moshiach
Right NOW!
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