Turning Away Spiritually

One of the subjects discussed in this week’s Torah reading is how to deal with a sotah, a woman suspected of adultery. In biblical times, there was a unique way of determining her innocence or guilt. A scroll containing G-d’s name and curses for infidelity was submerged in water, and the woman was made to drink it. If she had transgressed, she would die.

The Torah introduces this passage with the verse: “If a man’s wife will deviate.” Our Sages note the similarity between the Hebrew word for “deviate,” tisteh, and the word for foolishness, shtus, teaching: “A person does not sin unless possessed by a spirit of foolishness.”

What is the foolishness of sin? No one truly wants to separate from G-d. If a person fully realized that a certain act cut him off from G-d, he would never do it. No temptation, however strong, could make someone willingly break that bond.

Why, then, do we sin? Because we rationalize. “This isn’t so bad,” we tell ourselves. “My relationship with G-d is still intact.” In one sense that’s true, because from G-d’s perspective no one is ever fully separate from Him. But it’s like two people standing back to back: they are near each other, yet disconnected. Through sin, a person turns away from G-d and must undergo an inner change to reconnect.

If we truly understood that every transgression means turning our backs on G-d, we would never sin. That lack of awareness is part of the foolishness our Sages described.

A second form of foolishness is believing we lack the strength to resist temptation. That too is untrue, because nothing is stronger than truth, and within every Jew is a G-dly soul yearning to be expressed. No material desire can overpower that inner spiritual drive once it is awakened.

Is there anything we would not do to remain one with G-d? Throughout history, Jews have chosen martyrdom rather than deny their faith because they could not bear separation from Him. If we can face death rather than abandon that connection, surely we can overcome the smaller inner struggles that stand in the way of living a life connected to Him.

Shabbat Shalom!

Candle lighting time: Friday, 8:01 PM (in NYC)