I just saw something very beautiful written by Reb Tzvi Elimielch of Dinov, better known as the B'nei Yisaschar, whose yahrzeit is this week.
The Gemara (Berachos 5a) gives a list of ideas as to how to fight one's negative inclinations. It lists four ideas saying to try this one first. If this doesn't work, try this other idea
next. The final one is to remember the day of your death. The idea being that even someone who was unable to refrain from wrongdoing through the other suggestions, will surely stop when he contemplates having to give a (w)reckoning after his death.
In his work Igra D'Kalla he asks that if this last idea is guaranteed to work for anyone why did the Gemara list it last. Why did it offer alternative suggestions first before finally mentioning the one that will surely be effective?
He answers that it is inappropriate to initiate this type of fear in a person as it will lead him to become depressed. Only when all other options have been exhausted is the fear of punishment supposed to be used as a deterrent. As long as there is any other possible means of helping a person withstand negative impulses it is best to stay away from warnings of judgement and punishment. If you bring the person down with such warnings and he ends up depressed he will have negative feelings towards his religious observance and he will serve God in an unhappy and uninspired manner.
The Gemara (Berachos 5a) gives a list of ideas as to how to fight one's negative inclinations. It lists four ideas saying to try this one first. If this doesn't work, try this other idea
In his work Igra D'Kalla he asks that if this last idea is guaranteed to work for anyone why did the Gemara list it last. Why did it offer alternative suggestions first before finally mentioning the one that will surely be effective?
He answers that it is inappropriate to initiate this type of fear in a person as it will lead him to become depressed. Only when all other options have been exhausted is the fear of punishment supposed to be used as a deterrent. As long as there is any other possible means of helping a person withstand negative impulses it is best to stay away from warnings of judgement and punishment. If you bring the person down with such warnings and he ends up depressed he will have negative feelings towards his religious observance and he will serve God in an unhappy and uninspired manner.
No comments:
Post a Comment