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Vayeshev - Inclinations We are born with two inclinations. In Hebrew we call them Yetzer HaTov (the good inclination) and the Yetzer HaRah (the evil inclination). We struggle throughout our lives to conquer the evil inclination and follow only the good. When we were younger we might have thought of this concept as the devilish figure on one shoulder and the angelic one on the other, giving us advice on how to live our lives. It would be impossible to live our life completely following our Yetzer HaTov. We must at times follow our Yetzer HaRah. For example – The Talmud tells a story of the Rabbis attempt to capture the force that is the Yetzer HaRah. Upon finally capturing it, they choose not to destroy it, rather to lock it in a room for three days. For those three days, no babies were conceived and no business was transacted. The Rabbis released the Yetzer HaRah from captivity. Seeing that we need to have the dilemma, the moral debates between what is right and wrong, we sometimes need to fall to temptation. In this week’s Parsha, Vayeshev, we have a very mature story involving Judah and Tamar. Judah’s oldest son, Er, marries Tamar, a beautiful young woman, who commentary says he refused to get pregnant as to not affect her beauty. When he dies (as a punishment for wasting his seed), his brother, Onan (through an act known as Yibum, Levirite marriage), marries Tamar. He too refuses to get Tamar pregnant and is punished (he dies). Judah’s third son, Shelah, is too young (in Judah’s eyes) to marry, so Tamar waits in Judah’s house. After waiting for quite some time, Tamar leaves and waits at the side of the road dressed as a harlot (prostitute), the first mention in the Torah of a harlot. Judah, passing on the road, gives in to his Yetzer HaRah and sleeps with Tamar, getting her pregnant (a fact that he only learns later). From their union, a union that would not have happened had it not been for the Yetzer HaRah, we have the birth of twins, Perez and Zerach. From Perez we have the Kingdom of David and the Messianic Dynasty. We try as parents to make sure that our children always follow their Yetzer HaTov. Occasionally the Yetzer HaRah sneaks in… It can have incredible outcomes as well (when managed correctly). AS A FAMILY: Before making a major decision make a pro and con list. Explain to your children that sometimes the list can be written down and sometimes you can weigh things in your mind.
FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:
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