Parshas Acharei At the end of this Parsha we find the Inyan of the Arayos. How appropriate. But by way of introduction to this topic, the Torah tells us not to be like the Goyim. "Like the ways of Mitzrayim where you left from, and like the ways of Cena'an where I am taking you, you should not do". On this Pasuk, Rashi comments:
[center]כְּמַעֲשֵׂה אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם - מַגִּיד שֶׁמַּעֲשֵׂיהֶם שֶׁל מִצְרִים וְשֶׁל כְּנַעֲנִים מְקֻלְקָלִים מִכָּל הָאֻמּוֹת, וְאוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם שֶׁיָּשְׁבוּ בּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְקֻלְקָל מִן הַכֹּל
אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מֵבִיא אֶתְכֶם שָׁמָּה - מַגִּיד שֶׁאוֹתָן עֲמָמִין שֶׁכָּבְשׁוּ יִשְֹרָאֵל מְקֻלְקָלִים [יוֹתֵר] מִכֻּלָּם[center]
Rashi is telling us that the land of Mitzrayim, and specifically Goshen, was the worst land in the world. As was the land of Cena'an where Hashem was bringing us to. I have 2 questions here: 1 - Why would Hashem put us specifically in lands and among people who are the worst in the world, and then ask us to fight it? 2 - Why would the Torah mention that concept over here?
It is interesting to note that throughout the world, and throughout history, wherever there has been a tremendous amount of Kedusha, there has always been an equally bad amount of Tumah. Go back to Greece, Spain in it's glory days with the late Rishonim and early Achronim, Europe throughout the ages, culminating with the holocaust. Look what happened in those eras. The Misyavnim, the inquisition, the crusades, the enlightenment, the reform and Maskilim which precluded the holocaust, communist Russia, and the list goes on. If we look even today at some of the cities where there is a large amount of Bnei Torah - Yerushalayim, New York, New Jersey, California.... These cities all have some of the worst reputations for Zenus and immorality. What's the Peshat?
It would seem from all of this that Hashem wanted to teach us a lesson through this. Everything in the world must remain balanced. Symmetrical. Both physically, and spiritually. When a city is overloaded with Kedusha, the Koach of Tumah has an equal hand to match it and keep the balance. This is why it seems that the more we grow, and the more we succeed, the greater the power the YH weilds over us, and the harder the challenge becomes. It is a law of nature. But there is an exception. Look at the city of Bnei Brak. There may not be a city in the world with more Kedusha, and yet, somehow, they defy the laws of nature and remain till this day virtually Tumah free. What is their secret?
I believe the secret lies in the Medrash in Parshas Vaera. The Medrash says that the Koach of Tumah comes from the ground, and if the Mechashefa is not "grounded", she has no power. What a concept!! If we don't let any Tumah get a foothold in the city, it can not grow, and the balance will be upset in the favor of Kedusha. In Bnei Brak there is no element of Tumah at all, so therefore they remain pure. But in all those other cities throughout history, even though the level of Kedusha was very high, there was also a Tumahdigge presence, and so it manifested itself into an equally balanced entity.
I seem to have gotten too deep for myself!! So let's simply and summarize: Where there is Kedusha, there is an equal balance of Tumah in proportion. Unless there is no Tumah at all, which will result in the Tumah having no ground to connect to, rendering it helpless to balance out the Kedusha.
The lesson for us at GYE is quite simple. ADDING KEDUSHA ALONE, WILL NOT HELP US FIGHT OFF THE TUMAH OF LUST!!! Of course we must try to add as much as possible. But the key to our success is in the safeguards that we make for ourselves. Once we let the YH in the door, all our Kedusha will be instantly balanced out, and we don't stand a chance. Our only hope is to keep the YH out!!! Don't give the Tumah an opening of any kind, and only then can we overcome our challenges. The key is in the safe guards. Our eyes first and foremost, our thoughts, where we go, who we hang out with. It is only through safe guards that we stand a chance.
Hatzlocha!!
