Seeing Through The Soton

It was the most remarkable Siyum I had ever had attended. One of my ex students has kept alive his Kesher with the Manchester Baal HaBayis who had been his tutor at project SEED. They'd decided to learn a Masechta together even though the young man now lives in London and they were separated by two hundred and ten miles. For the cost of two pounds, for one hour every week, they had learnt Rosh HaShonnah via the telephone! The young man had travelled back north and together with a Minyan of others I was invited to attend and speak at a joint Seuda Shelishis and Siyum. After the completing the Gemora, my Talmid stood up to recite the Hadran. Perhaps because of the unique nature of the event, I found myself listening with particular attention to words I had heard hundreds of times.... "Modim Anachnu Loch ... that you have appointed our role amongst those who sit in the Beis HaMedrash."

The Gemora in Bovo Basro says that Iyov wanted to free the world from divine punishment. "If a person has done wrong it is only because of his Yezer HoRa. HaShem Yisborach gave us this Yeter HoRa, therefore it is not our fault." Iyov's Chaverim pointed to the flaw in his argument. It is true HaShem gave us a Yetzer HoRa but he also gave us the antidote, "Borosi Yetzer HoRa Borosi Lo Torah Tavlin." The Torah is the antidote. Rabbi Dessler zt'l makes a brilliant but troubling remark on this Gemora, "But the Yetzer HoRa will not let you learn Torah!" How then can we ever reach the essential medicine? Rabbi Dessler answers that you cannot get to the Beis HaMedrash to learn Torah "Positively" and intentionally( L'Shmo), the Soton will stop you. You can get to the Beis HaMedrash "Negatively"(Lo L'Shmo) by seeing that what the Soton is offering as alternatives, are a series of false promises and unachievable goals. That Baal Korcho brings someone to the Beis HaMedrash and once he tastes Torah the Yetzer is in trouble, Mtoch Shlo L'Shmo Bo L'Shmo. Let's consider a few Maamorie Chazal and see from our own experiences if they do not ring true. The Soton might point out that Bnei Torah tend to be poor. Instead of going to Yeshiva, go straight into Business and you will have lots of money. Chazal point out, "Someone who desires money will never be satisfied by money." The Soton might tempt us with an enormous house and beautiful new car. Chazal remind us, "The more possessions you own, the more worries accompany them." When you're rich he tells us, people will respect you and you will have Kovod! Chazal observe, "The more you chase after Kovod the more it flees from you." Like most salesmen, the Yetzer HoRa sets before us a sparkling package. As long as we are not dazzled by the Glitter, we may have enough sense to examine carefully the fine print that comes with his exciting offers.

Last Year I invited an old friend to address my students in Hillel House. In appearance he looks like any Yeshiva man. A smart suit, Hat and small Payos behind his ear. When I first met him ten years ago though, he looked very different. Then he was a Hollywood film Star. He told his young audience the story of his journey. Born in London he was educated at an exclusive school. The he went to Drama school and became an actor. He found work touring with a famous "Show" of those days. Together with a friend he decided he could write something just as good and they did. It became a "hit" and still fills theatres here and abroad to this day. Tiring of the world of acting he decided on a career move. He opened a recording studio. It was the first of its kind in Europe. Because it was so technically advanced, it attracted some of the most famous names in Pop music.

Those names will mean nothing to the readers of the Jewish Tribune but as my students sat there looking at this Orthodox Rabbi who had "Produced" some of the biggest selling records of popular culture, their jaws started to droop. His success brought an invitation to travel to America and produce Pop groups there. His expenses paid flights were first class on Concorde. Chauffeur driven Stretch-Limousines waited to take him from place to place. More success soon followed. Once again something in him made him move on and he was soon touring a one-man show around America to great critical acclaim. Eventually he arrived in Hollywood. Agents fought to sign him and he made films and became a "Star." One day he was being driven to the Film Studio (in the inevitable Stretch-Limousine), he thought about his life. He had fame and fortune. In his grand Hollywood house he had a stable of cars, Mercedes and Porches. The cars were of course exchanged for new and shinier ones every year, which was similar to the pattern in his personal relationships. As he considered his life, one thought crossed his mind and troubled him profoundly, "Is this it? Is this all there is?" Ten years later and he now teaches Torah in Yerushalayim.

Few people indeed who listen to the Yetzer HoRa's promises, ever come anywhere near having so much that was offered actually fulfilled. For those who do, they find that life is empty. What the Soton promises is a lie.

Rabbi Dessler secures this fact with an astonishing Ibn Ezra on Megilas Esther. After Homon is hanged, Achashverus turns to Mordechai and tells him to write whatever he wishes as a Royal Edict, which he will sign, and seal. The previous edict, which stated that the Jews are to be killed on the thirteenth of Adar, cannot be annulled. Mordechai's genius was displayed in the words he choose. He wrote that the King had dictated the first edict at Homon's hand, instructing that on the thirteenth of Adar the Jews should kill their enemies! Then he went on, Homon had changed the text and falsified the order writing instead that the Jews should be killed by their enemies. In this way the first edict was not contradicted, Homon was seen to be the liar and now hung from a gallows as a reward, the King had never intended to have the Jews harmed.

Of course our Mesora teaches that the word "King" in the Megilla really refers to the Melech Malchei Melochim, Ha Kodosh Boruch Hu. Homon was the embodiment of the Yetzer HoRa. The message is that the way to defeat him, is by exposing him as being a liar.

Sometimes Rabbi Dessler writes, two people will arrange between themselves that whenever they say "Yes" they mean "No." Whenever they say "No" they mean "Yes." Reb Mendel of Vitevsk Zt'l wrote, "It is a tried and tested fact, whatever the Soton promises us, he really means the opposite!"

So I sat at that special Siyum and listened to the words of the Hadran and I heard them with a clarity I had not managed before. "Onu Mashkimim V'heim Mashkimim, we arise to words of Torah they arise to words which in truth mean nothing." Only the words of Torah are true, the words offering alternatives in reality offer nothing at all.

We may find ourselves this Rosh HaShonnah worrying that, as in years gone past, our best intentions and sincerest resolutions will soon become eroded as the Yetzer HoRa gets down to another years work. The Chiddush of Rabbi Dessler adds a new weapon to help us resist the Yetzer's best efforts. With just a little thought, it is possible to see through the Soton.