Rav Ofer Erez, a famous Rabbi from Israel, has many derashot (Torah classes) on CDs. One time I picked up a CD at one of the mikvehs in Queens and I listened to the Torah class from that CD. Even though an individual listens or attends to a Torah class, each time they listen to it they pick up something else. This time hearing the shiur (Torah class), which spoke about the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination), I picked up a small part of the lecture that was super inspiring.
Rav Ofer Erez spoke about a teaching of Rav Nahman and how Rav Nahman explained that there are seven names for the yetzer hara and the name that is most relevant to the yetzer hara of our generation is the name 'medame.' The word medame means simulator, or an individual who imagines a process. What is the power of the yetzer hara? The yetzer hara is smart enough to bring these crazy and outrageous thoughts into our heads: yes, i will do xyz because it is really good for me. YEAH RIGHT! If one really looks at the behavior they want to execute from an outside viewpoint, they see it makes ZERO sense! This lust/desire/action I want to do is completely against everything I stand for.
At that moment when an individual used their mind to reach the conclusion that it is NOT following in the general service of Hashem: this is the weapon needed in order to overcome the Yetzer Hara! Be'ezrat Hashem with the knowledge that we are commanded to do Mitzvot and this commandment is A PRIVILEGE we will overcome each of our own desires that go against the Torah! With a smile and the correct outlook at each nisayon (challenge), we can always win.
Head up and take your spiritual life by the horns! Be the one in control under Hashem's help!
Judaism=Think.
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