Engraving by Gustave Dore
Translation
by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom (Breslov Research
Institute), pp. 242-243
It
is now very easy to resist temptation.
When
people withstand a temptation, its evil husks are broken. It then becomes
easier for others to withstand it.
People
have already withstood many temptations, making it easier for the average man
today.
The
Talmud teaches us, "What Joseph overcame with strength was a small matter
for Boaz. What Boaz overcame with strength was a small matter for Palti ben
Laish."[1] It took great strength for Joseph to resist the temptation of Photifar's wife.[2] When
Boaz found himself alone with Ruth in the middle of the night, it was much
easier for him to overcome this temptation.[3] Joseph
had already broken its power.
When
Saul gave David's wife Michal to Palti ben Laish, he lived with her for a long
time and faced even greater temptation than Boaz.[4] But
here again it was easier to overcome this temptation, for Boaz had already paved
the way.
As
the years pass, it becomes easier to resist temptation. The most average man
can therefore now withstand all tests.
[1] Sanhedrin 19b.
[2] Genesis 39:8.
[3] Ruth 3:8.
[4] I Samuel 25:44; II
Samuel 3:15.
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