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EXODUS | 10:12 arm — EXOD133 When [men] occupy themselves with Torah a...

EXOD133 When [men] occupy themselves with Torah and gemiluth chesed their inclination is mastered by them, not they by their inclination, as it is said (Isaiah 32:20): "Blessed are you that sow beside all waters." What is meant here is that man's inclination strives to master him in two ways. Firstly, it attempts to divert his attention to foolish matters, and secondly, to habituate his limbs to all manner of activity contrary to the will of God, may He be blessed. However, whoever occupies himself with Torah and with acts of kindness succeeds in subduing his inclinations and in bringing them under his control. Through Torah, one is occupied with the teachings of the living God, and so he sanctifies his intellectual powers; while, through acts of kindness, he sanctifies his bodily organs, since these are now taken up with the service of the King of the Universe. So we find [this verse (sic?), Exodus 11:22 (sic - 10:22?): "To walk in all His ways" -- and Exod. 18:12 (sic - 18:20?)]: "And you shall make known to them the way in which they shall go, " which refers to all the ways of goodness of the Holy One, blessed be He. So Chazal have asserted. Man thereby acquires immunity to the enticements of his inclinations to do the opposite.

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Source KeyAHAVCH
Verse10:12
Keyword(s)arm
Source Page(s)96
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