Questions tagged [evil-inclination]

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What is the source for the saying ‘a righteous man is rebuked by his yetzer tov; a wicked man by his yetzer hara’?

Shalom. I heard this saying a while ago, but did not remember the source. I’ve done Google searches and cannot find reference to it. Could someone enlighten me as to where this is from? With blessings....
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Is one punished for sinful thoughts? [duplicate]

Is one punished for sinful thoughts brought upon by one's yetzer hara? Please give sources, thanks in advance.
ddas91600's user avatar
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Someone said that there's a Jewish source which claims that Satan cries when we do something bad? Does anyone know where this is from?

I've recently heard someone claim that there is a Jewish source which states that Satan cries when we do something evil. As the question title says, does anyone know where this is coming from?
setszu's user avatar
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If we think of evil as the absence of good, then how should we understand sheidim/evil spirits/demons?

Many Jewish commentators such as Rambam (Moreh Nevuchim 3:10 explains that evil doesn't have a reality of its own, but is merely a privation of good) thought that evil was merely the absence of good ...
setszu's user avatar
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What are the spiritual(mental), mystical, practical, realistic, religious social benefits of refraining from all perversions and immodesties?

I should refrain from impure thoughts, licentious ruminations, immodesty and improper sex. I must guard my eyes, tongue and mouth from perversion and sexually improper 'things'. I must no watch porn, ...
naarter's user avatar
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4 answers
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How to understand God creating evil? [duplicate]

When God said that he creates good and creates evil, does that mean evil as the ability to rebel against the order established by him but not necessarily that he causes evil? Does this verb to creates ...
Thales's user avatar
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2 answers
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Information about some Kabbalah authors

There is a sentence on Wikipedia about Kabbalah, but unfortunately, there are no sources for it, and I would like to know the sources (if they exist). The sentence says: "Among the problems ...
Mineder's user avatar
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4 answers
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Surpass a test in a dream, receive reward?

I had a dream where I was faced with a difficult challenge to break halacha or not, and I was able to overcome the temptation and follow halacha. My question is, does a person receive a reward for ...
robev's user avatar
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2 votes
4 answers
261 views

Does yetzer hatov grow stronger the more we use it

I heard that the more we listen to our Yetzer Hara, the stronger it grows. Is the flip side true? That is, the more we listen to our Yetzer Hatov, does it grow stronger?
Josh Grinberg's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
166 views

Why didn't the Sages also subdue the inclination for murder?

The Talmud, on Sanhedrin 64a recounts how the Sages subdued and imprisoned the evil inclination for idolatry and then subdued and injured the evil inclination for sexual immorality. Those are two of ...
Isaac Moses's user avatar
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Where does it say that a convert's yetzer hara becomes stronger?

I hear this from many authoritative sources but where is it from Torah she beal peh? Is it merely because all the mitzvot are now obligatory or are there deeper reasons?
Kenny Xiong's user avatar
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How did Serpent the animal know the wrong before Adam?

This question deals exclusively with the literal interpretation of the Serpent as a biological species, not as metaphorical evil (see my previous question "Stripping-satan-of-his-legs"). In ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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Meaning of stripping Satan of his legs and walking on his belly

This question deals exclusively with the metaphorical interpretation of the Serpent as Satan/evil inclination/Devil/etc, not as a biological species. The Serpent was cursed by God with : "...
Al Berko's user avatar
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Kotzker Rebbe on two yetzer haras: One before you and one after you

I heard recently a devar Torah where the Rav quoted the Kotzker Rebbe as saying a phrase in Yiddish (which I don't remember/didn't understand), something of the likes of: "it's late, but never ...
robev's user avatar
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Cursing the ground because of the imagination of the heart?

In Genesis 3:17 G-d says that the ground shall be cursed because of Adam. Later on in Genesis 8:21 G-d tells Noah that He will never curse the ground again (since the devisings of man’s mind are evil ...
Levi's user avatar
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2 answers
180 views

Where in the Tanakh, on a peshat level, is "Yetzer HaTov" derived?

Where in the Tanakh, on a peshat level, is "Yetzer HaTov" derived? Rashi seems to derive "Yetzer HaRa" from Genesis 8:21 (because the words "yetzer" and "ra" ...
ninamag's user avatar
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5 answers
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Using internet for bad

Does anyone know of any good shiurim or sefarim to get someone to stop using the internet for bad?
dul's user avatar
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7 answers
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Why does the Torah not make more concessions to the evil inclination?

The Torah says: When you take ... your enemies ... captive, and you see among them a woman of beautiful form, and you desire her, you may take her to yourself as a wife. [Deuteronomy 21:11] But the ...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
75 views

Why is the Evil Inclination Called a “fire”

In the introduction of Chomat Hadat, the Chofetz Chaim calls Yetzer Harah a "fire". Why this comparison? What that means? And where is his source for this?
Renato S. Grun's user avatar
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3 answers
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What is the antidote for a woman's yetzer hara?

The Gemora in Kiddushin 30b says כך הקב"ה אמר להם לישראל בני בראתי יצר הרע ובראתי לו תורה תבלין ואם אתם עוסקים בתורה אין אתם נמסרים בידו So said Hashem to Israel, "My children, I created the ...
gordon613's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
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Evil inclination compared to a strange god within man

I've found this article which quoted some interesting thoughts: Our sages said about the verse (Shabbat 105b), “There shall not be a strange god within you, nor will you bow before a strange god.” ...
Levi's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
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"Impossible" to resist a sin

In Tzidkat Hatzaddik 43, we see: Sometimes a person is subjected to such a difficult test that it is impossible that he not sin. As our Sages said [in explaining the sin of the Golden Calf: “...
SAH's user avatar
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Does Orthodox Judaism endorse or prescribe exercises and acts to help counteract negative influences or inner spiritual issues and conflicts?

I know this question sounds kind of "New Age" in terms of theme but I was genuinely curious if Orthodox Judaism has any figures who endorsed such topics or books which discussed the topic (either in ...
user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
71 views

Won’t let go unless you bless me

In the moment Yaakov is wrestling a adversary he says: ‘לא אשלחך כי אם ברכתני’, I wondered if there are any commentaries which reads this differently. I noticed that Rabbi Hirsch connects the root ...
Levi's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
164 views

Is there a concept for individuals who are "too" destructive, in that they destabilize all of those around them?

Obviously, no one is inherently evil. All humans are constantly in battle with their evil inclination and we have to actively work to groom positive traits within us. That being said, do the sages ...
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-1 votes
2 answers
140 views

Should people be encouraged to yield to the evil inclination?

Chazal say very clearly that the evil inclination is the foundation of great and good achievements: -Abaye said: The greater the man, the greater his evil inclination. [Sukkah 52a] -Nachman said, in ...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
75 views

King Saul was able to fight the Yetzer Hara head on

I heard a wonderful drasha on the verse II Samuel 1:18 but I can't find the source: ויאמר ללמד בני־יהודה קשת הנה כתובה על־ספר הישר He instructed to teach the Children of Yehudah the bow. ...
Michael Sandler's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
351 views

In Judaism, is there a view which is similar to the Original Sin of Christianity? [closed]

First, I would like to describe a little bit of my background. I'm not Jewish, and I'm not a Christian. Currently, I'm in a debate with some Christian members in a Christian forum with our mother ...
karma's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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If one is aware the yetzer harah drove him to do something, must he stop?

Say you are fully aware that your yetzer harah drove you to do something specific- to visit a certain person on a certain day, or to have a certain kosher meal for dinner. Is that activitity ...
יהושע ק's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
165 views

"Evil Inclination" History

I'm a Christian who wants to know more about history of the Jewish concept of "The Evil Inclination". (I find myself often arguing against saint Augustine's Original Sin theology and the more early ...
Pavel Mosko's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
195 views

Paradox of the Evil Inclination: Hashem commands to disobey Himself?

I understand that to make this world spinning (to get to its purpose of bestowing the world to come), the Evil Inclination (Yetzer Harah) is commanded by Hashem to constantly drag us to do ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
55 views

Source that people are judged based on their inclinations

Where does the Orchos Tzaddikim say that everyone is judged according to their inclinations, meaning that you could have one person who acts better than a second person but the second person is better ...
Eliyahu's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
393 views

Does a Tzadik have a Yetzer Harah?

Was Yitzchok a Tzadik? Rashi in Bereshit 28:13 says Yitzchok was blind and that his​ Yetzer Harah left him. Does that imply that he had an evil inclination when he wasn't blind? What about King David?...
larry909's user avatar
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6 votes
0 answers
203 views

Purpose of Torah in Gan Eden

We know from several midrashim (see first chapter of Midrash Tanchuma to Bereshit) that Torah had already existed before the world was created. It should have contained all the positive and negative ...
Kazi bácsi's user avatar
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1 answer
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Is it possible to overcome Yetzer Hara without the Torah? [closed]

What do our great teachers say about overcoming evil inclinations without Torah? Is it even possible? Look forward to your answers!
Striv4Conv5748's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
261 views

Is the yetzer hara a separate entity?

This is something that's always bothered me about the classic "yeshivish" presentation of Judaism. Most "yeshivish" people will claim that the yetzer hara is an entity that is almost completely ...
Samuel's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Why did Chiya bar Ashi separate from his wife?

In the gmara kidushin 81b according to the translation http://www.dafyomi.co.il/kidushin/points/kd-ps-081.htm the following story happened. (h) Whenever R. Chiya bar Ashi would fall on his face in ...
David Michael Gang's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
45 views

Why does the good inclination come in 13 years late?

To paraphrase Avos D'Rebbi Nassan 16:2: The evil inclination grows when a person is born, while the good inclination enters at Bar/Bas Mitzvah. As a minor, if he desecrates Shabbos, his inclination ...
DonielF's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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Whoever is greater than his friend has a greater inclination

Sukkah 52a has an interesting story with Abaye (translation from Sefaria.org) כי הא דאביי שמעיה לההוא גברא דקאמר לההיא אתתא נקדים וניזיל באורחא אמר איזיל אפרשינהו מאיסורא אזל בתרייהו תלתא פרסי ...
robev's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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how does the yetzer hara rule over a person?

In the "Path of the Just" chapter 5, Rabbi Luzzato writes: For in truth, the evil inclination (yetzer hara) is very powerful in a man. Without a man's knowledge, it advances and strengthens over ...
ray's user avatar
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2 votes
4 answers
118 views

What makes the choice to do good or evil?

I understand some of bechira but this has always puzzled me: If we are equally inclined to do good or evil, what is it that makes the final choice?
chayam's user avatar
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Give and take a battle?

http://www.aish.com/jl/p/wayofg-d/17-Created-for-Pleasure.html?mobile=yes According to my own understanding the Ramchal thought that because HaShem is completely, perfectly, totally, absolutly, ...
Levi's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
290 views

Why was the snake punished?

In Michtav M'Eliyahu vol2. page 137 Rabbi Dessler explains that the primordial snake was an external manifestation of the evil inclination which entered man after the sin. If so, why was the snake ...
ray's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
432 views

Satan meaning Tempter?

I found a great story online from which I would like to quote a part: The word satan in the Bible seems to mean merely “opponent”. For instance, the angel who obstructs Bilaam’s progress is ...
Perez's user avatar
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1 answer
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Akrasia and the Yetzer Harah

I asked many questions about the Yetzarim before trying to figure out the concept, the meaning and the way it works looking at myself and different cognitive studies. Recently I found a concept ...
Levi's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
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Intellect above heart; the way to beat the Yetzer hara?

Before I ask my question I would like to present a couple of teachings from the chabad website which have to do with my question: Looking at the sefirot there is this general accepted twofold ...
Levi's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Yetzer machshevot libo

There is a phrase in Bereshit/Genesis 6:5 which reads in hebrew: '.... v'kol yetzer machshevot libo...' I found different translations starting of with: The entire, every, the whole.. And ending ...
Levi's user avatar
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How did the word Yetzer begot it's meaning of inclination?

Looking for the connection of Yetzer and the translation as inclanation, I was surprised that almost every Hebrew word derived from the same root had to do with creating. So how did a word (from a ...
Levi's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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Are non-Jews held accountable for their deeds?

According to the "Path of the Just" by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato ch.3 For one who is still held captive in the prison of his evil inclination - his eyes do not see this truth, and he is incapable ...
ray's user avatar
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3 votes
4 answers
359 views

Why does Torah study rein in the Evil Inclination?

The Talmud in Kidushin 30b states that Torah study is essential activity for gaining control of the evil inclination. "... so too the Holy One blessed be He said: 'I have created the evil ...
ray's user avatar
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