Have you ever fallen into a business deal you were sure would bring the windfall you always dreamed of—only to discover it was all one big lie? Or perhaps you invested in a fund you thought would return millions, only to find out the entire project was fabricated. Maybe you were persuaded to buy a product after seeing it advertised on TV, the internet, or a billboard—only to realize afterward how foolish it was to fall into the same trap that ensnares millions every day.
The Torah recognizes this human weakness and tells us how to confront it. “When you go out to war against your enemies,” says the Torah at the beginning of this week’s portion. Who is this enemy? The Rabbis explain that the Torah is alluding to the enemy within each of us—the yetzer hara, our evil inclination. Urges, desires, temptations, and distractions constantly pull us in different directions, with new challenges waiting around every corner. Our mission is to outsmart and overpower him.
Sometimes the yetzer hara comes at us directly, pushing us toward something we clearly know is wrong. But often his tactics are far more subtle.
The Torah continues by describing how, even if we initially succeed in battle, we may suddenly encounter a “beautiful woman” who captivates us with strong desires. On a deeper level, this teaches that in our lifelong struggle with the yetzer hara, we may be faced with opportunities that seem irresistible—so good, so amazing, so once-in-a-lifetime—that we convince ourselves it must be right, maybe even a mitzvah. Yet, deep inside, a small voice whispers: “Something here doesn’t feel right.”
The Torah urges us to listen to that inner voice. For if we give in, we eventually discover that what seemed so dazzling was nothing more than a mirage—an illusion that leaves us empty and unfulfilled. Deep down, we know what’s right. The challenge is to trust that inner compass.
When we do, Hashem blesses us with a life of true happiness and fulfillment.
Wishing everyone a Good Shabbos,
Shmuel Klein
