However, the Sfas Emes notes that it is not
possible to achieve closeness to God without a prior struggle. In the holy Zohar (3:251b) we find
that unleavened bread/מצה – alludes to a
struggle with the evil inclination. The Aramaic
word for struggle is matzusa/מצותא. The struggle/מצותא brings us to mitzvah/מצוה
representing closeness to God.
Chazal encourage us to struggle with the evil
inclination, "לעולם
ירגיז אדם יצר טוב על יצר הרע/One
should always incite the good impulse to fight the evil impulse." (Brachos
5a) What should one do if he
struggled and failed? Chazal tell us
that he should recite Kri'as Shma. What
does it help to say Kri'as Shma? Reciting
Kri'as Shma is a time when we are close to God.
The Sfas Emes posits that even if we fail, there is merit in the
struggle itself. This merit manifests at
a time that is more conducive to closeness to God. So, one who struggled, even if he failed to
overcome his temptations, will experience a different Kri'as Shma than one who
never struggled at all.
The Sfas Emes sees this concept clearly in our
activities during the days of the week culminating in Shabbos. Shabbos is certainly more conducive to
experience closeness to God than the days of the week. Yet, struggling (and not struggling) with our
evil impulses during the week directly affects our Shabbos experience. Struggling with our evil impulses during the
week, even if we failed to always overcome them, will lead us to a more
spiritual Shabbos than if we did not struggle at all.
The Sfas Emes sees this concept in the Chazal
(Avos 4:3), "כל
מחלוקת שהיא לשם שמים סופה להתקיים/Any
argument that is for the sake of heaven will survive." Our fight with our evil impulses leads us to
the plateau of closeness to God. The
fight itself is the key.
Pinchas received this gift for free, as it
were – without the struggle that is usually required. He received this gift because he was moved to
anger and revenge for the sake of God's honor. He risked his life to avenge God's honor and
in return God granted him His covenant of peace – closeness to Him.
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