2020/5780

The story is told that Rav Moshe Feinstein ZT”L was asked if he wanted air conditioning installed in his home and he declined the offer. When asked the reason, Rav Moshe explained that “if he got used to learning Torah with a cool temperature in the room, he would never be able to learn Torah without air conditioning.” Essentially, Rav Moshe did not want to feel the need for something that he had never found to be necessary. This foresight of Rav Moshe Feinstein teaches us that we must avoid bad habits even before they begin. This message is found in a comment of the Ramban in this week’s Parashah as well.

Moshe Rabeinu, in Parashat Netzavim (כט:יח) criticizes the person who doesn’t heed to the warnings of the Tochachah and “LeMaan Sefot HaRavah Et HaTzemeiah,” “Adds the thirsty onto the satisfied" (Devarim 29:18). Who is the Torah referring to in this cryptic Pasuk? The Ramban (ibid s.v. LeMaan Sefot HaRavah Et HaTzemeiah) explains that those who are “satisfied” do not have a temptation to sin while those who are “thirsty” have a temptation to sin. Thus, the Torah, in this Pasuk, is describing somebody who got a taste of sin and now has a desire to repeat the sin again. In other words, despite the fact that this person used to feel satisfied and did not feel the need to sin, he now feels thirsty to sin again.

This Ramban appears to be describing the beginning of a bad habit or even an addiction. During this time of year, it is our job to ask ourselves if we are too “thirsty” for things that are harmful to us spiritually or physically. If we find such problems, we are required to create better habits for the upcoming year. Although breaking our routine may seem daunting, we are assured that Hashem helps us do teshuva during the Yamim Noraim season. The Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 2:6) specifies that the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah are a unique time of year when “Hashem more readily accepts Teshuva”. We are therefore obligated to, at least, try to break our bad habits and return to our old norms before sin became a “need.”

While the Ramban (Devarim 29:18 s.v. LeMaan Sefot HaRavah Et HaTzemeiah) seems to be describing a person who has sinned in the realm of “Bein Adam LeMakom”, this message is just as appropriate in the realm of “Bein Adam LeChaveiro.” Specifically, we may have an easy time treating most people with respect. However, there may be others who we have become accustomed to disliking or looking down upon. This is another type of “thirst” that we should try to reexamine during this time of year. The Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 2:10) explains that people should be “quick to forgive even those who have caused us great anguish”. This means that even if we have drawn negative conclusions about people, now is the time to give them a second chance.

With selichot coming up, it is important to realize that there is a requirement to recite selichot for a minimum of four days. The Mishnah Berurah (581:6) explains that “just as an animal is inspected for a blemish four days prior to its being brought as a Korban, we too are obligated to search for spiritual blemishes before Rosh Hashanah.” This act of introspection is critical because bad habits seep in without being detected. The Mesliat Yesharim (Chapter 2) explains that it requires “great wisdom to outsmart the Yeitzer HaRa and we require divine assistance.” This is the time of year to find those bad habits and break them. We should all be Zocheh to have a year or growth and break those old habits which may be getting in our way.