Blessing, Curse and Listening

“See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse. The blessing that you listen to the commandments of Hashem, your G-d, that I have commanded you today.”[1]

What does posuk mean by when it says see? Is it referring to physical sight or spiritual sight?

Rav Avraham Azulai[2] says a very deep insight:

“The soul has 248 spiritual limbs, as well as 365 spiritual sinews. It is housed in the physical body, each spiritual limb within its physical counterpart, in the 248 [physical] limbs which correspond to the 248 ‘sparks’ of the soul. Thus, when a person transgresses a prohibition, such as looking at something forbidden [to be looked at], he blocks the eye of his soul so that it becomes covered with a shell. This prevents him from seeing spirituality, as well as from being able to see (i.e. comprehend) the secrets contained within the Torah… Similarly, [when it comes to the sins of] the ear, the spiritual ear becomes deaf and [the person] will thus not be able to hear matters of spirituality, nor that which the angel is announcing…”

Rav Yaakov Galinsky zt”l[3] says, “What is a man? He is what he sees.”

Therefore, anyone who gazes at a woman will ultimately come to sin and one who stares at even the heel of a woman will have unworthy children because seeing is a connection to women and seeing is, therefore, the beginning of promiscuity.[4]

Let’s say one comes upon an immodestly dressed woman, whether married or single, Jewish or non-Jewish, what should he do? Shut his eyes or turn to the side to avoid seeing her, for as the wise man said, “There is no better safeguard against lust than shutting one’s eyes.”[5]

Shlomo HaMelech states, “There is no man so completely righteous on earth that he (always) does good and never sins.”[6] Consequently, if one decides to follow their physical urges one time, they will automatically be drawn to follow them many times; and conversely, if one is disciplined and control their desires by shutting their eyes from seeing immorality, it will be easier for one to continue doing so in the future… and he will rejoice every day as his challenge decreases correspondingly.[7]

Rabbeinu Yonah[8] writes that if a person looked at someone who was immodestly dressed and corrupted his eyes, he should repair the damage by teaching himself to look down as he walks. Rabbi Eliyahu de Vidas points out, however, this is not just about practical considerations, that by looking down one avoids seeing improper things. Rather, looking down engenders feelings of humility and leads Yiras Shamayim,[9] prevents him from sinning.[10] Rav Eliyahu HaKohein Ha’Itamri zt”l[11] writes that if one who is walking sees women walking toward him he should look down. Don’t argue, he adds, that it is only a glance, for if it were so, why is the yeitzer hara pushing him to continue to look?!

Yet, how does he purge these thoughts from his mind? If one is not emotionally constipated,[12] he should weep.[13]

What are the side effects of seeing immodest things? The Rabbi Eliyahu de Vidas[14] states the following:

“Everything that a person looks at, the image penetrates and fixes itself in his mind[15] and when he comes to pray or to study Torah, those material images appear in his mind, and they damage and invalidate his thoughts[16] and he will not be able to concentrate as required, because the eyes only see through the power that resides in the soul and the soul receives those images that come through the eyes and if the person looks at nakedness, he causes nakedness to penetrate in a high place.”

For this reason alone, one should learn Positive Vision by Rabbi Avrohom Neuberger or The Practical Guide To Shmiras Ha’einayim by Rabbi Shaul Wagschal.

What is the Torah’s definition of a blessing and curse?

The Mishnah says that peace is the vessel for blessing. To which Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai states, “… He [G-d] is peace, His Name is peace and everything is bound in peace. The Sifra emphasizes: “Peace is the seal of all blessings because, without peace, prosperity, health, food and drink are worthless.”[17]

Rav Yitzchak has a different perspective:

“Blessing is not found except in something that is hidden from the eye.”[18]

A blessing given by an ordinary person should never be unimportant in your eyes.[19] However, an accursed person cannot be attached to a blessed person.[20] The curse of a sage, even if made conditionally, is fulfilled.[21]

Rav Moshe ben Nachman[22] says that Shabbos is blessed in that it is the source of blessing for the rest of the week, and it is sanctified because it draws its holiness from the higher spiritual spheres.

Did you have a bad day? [I’m not referring Daniel Powter’s song Bad Day].

We are still our obligated to express our blessing to Hashem, blessed be His Name… whether it is a measure of goodness or measure of punishment, express your gratitude to Him.[23]

Someone who is involved in a מַחֲלֹקֶת, controversy is cursed. How? The Yalkut Shimoni tells us that the initials of the word מַחֲלֹקֶת, controversy spell out מַכָּה, hit, חָרוֹן, anger, לׅקּוּי, strike, קְלָלָה, curse and תַּכְלׅית, annihilation.

Controversy is so destructive that it can endanger lives and even cause death. The Satan plagues people who participate in controversy.[24]

The Torah does not state, “for it was good” regarding the second day of Creation because there is no blessing in divisiveness. Chazal teach that Gehinnom was created on the second day.[25] Perhaps Chazal are teaching us that being involved in controversy can lead someone to Gehinnom.[26]

What does it mean to listen? It entails remembering what was heard until one’s dying day.[27] One of the 48 ways that the Torah is acquired is through attentive listening.[28]

Hashem says, “Listen to Me because nobody ever loses out by listening to me[29] and [if you] observe My covenant, you shall be to Me the most beloved treasure of all peoples…”[30]

Dovid HaMelech implores us, “If you just heed Hashem’s word today, He will end our travail and suffering.”[31]

Our Creator signs off, “Safeguard and listen to all these words that I command you, in order that it be well with you and your children after you forever…”[32]