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The Joy of Repentance\Guilt-Free
Based on Tomer Devorah by the Holy Ramak
Authored and Published by the Salant Foundation
Distributed by Feldheim
The Secret of Happiness
The Ohr HaChaim teaches that the secret to happiness is to define ourselves according to our holy essence. The choice of defining ourselves by our inherent goodness automatically establishes the reality of our being. Accordingly, God said to Kayin If you will make yourself good — Elevate! Meaning, if you choose to define yourself by your inherent goodness, your Divine Image will perforce be actualized!
To summarize until now, the Ohr HaChaim explains that God revealed to Kayin that his externally directed negativity was misguided. In fact, the opposite was true: Kayin needed to turn inside. Like all of us, the Almighty created him with all the internal resources he required to succeed in his life’s mission. All he needed was to acknowledge the truth of his essence and define himself as good and holy. By choosing not to do so, he alone was responsible for his offering’s rejection.
The Future is Now
The Ohr HaChaim notes another anomaly in the verse: Kayin was anguished over a past action. In contrast, the Almighty’s exhortation was in the future tense: “If you will make yourself good.” The obvious question: It’s all good and well to consider that “from henceforth I will transform to good”; but what help does a future transformation offer to rectify a past action and neutralize Kayin’s mortification? Although it seems beyond human logic, the Ohr HaChaim shows that this amazing phenomenon is indeed so:
And He said to him, ’Elevate!’ meaning, “Automatically”! You should explain thusly: “Elevate!” refers to the past action; and it refers to Kayin himself as well, [informing him] that in addition, he should not let his countenance fall, for one’s countenance reflects the beauty [of the Divine Image, and as such, a display of negativity is unseemly and unbefitting]. Rather, he should let his virtue ascend – and this is the “aspect of good,” which is Nobility and Greatness.
In summation, the Ohr HaChaim explains that the essence of our freewill is to choose to define ourselves as good. By doing so, we unite with our true, holy essence, and all of our past deeds are automatically elevated to goodness – for the Holy One turns both to us and to the actions that lead us to where we are today!
Sin Crouches at the Entrancway
In the continuation of the verse we’ve discussed until now, the Creator carries on His loving admonition to Kayin “And if you will not make yourself good, sin crouches at the entranceway”. The Ohr HaChaim finds this phrase cryptic and almost incomprehensible. What is this “entranceway,” and what does it mean that “sin crouches” there?
He explains: [God said to Kayin,] “If you shun the ’aspect of your inherent goodness,’ then, ’sin crouches at the entranceway.’” Meaning, “You will be considered evil from your very inception, for behold, the aspect of evil, which is termed sin, ’crouches over you’ and upon all your actions, and will strip your mastery and control over all your deeds. Why, then, should you be distraught, since you alone are the cause of the matter!”
Meaning, “If you do not exercise your free-will to define yourself as good, you will immediately annul the Divine Image from your being. And since “nature abhors a vacuum,” your being will automatically be inundated with evil. As a result, both you and all of your deeds will be considered “evil.”
You Are the Master
Let’s conclude Ohr HaChaim’s elucidation with his comment of the verse’s final phrase: “And you can rule over it [the Negative Impulse].” He paraphrases, “You have the power to rule over the Negative Impulse. Accordingly, why are you distraught, since it is within your hands to rule over him and to uplift the ’stumbling block,’ i.e., the sin?!” The Ohr HaChaim explains that God’s address to Kayin was crafted to instill the confidence that he had within himself the power to master the Negative Impulse: “There is no reason to be sad, for the choice to transform to goodness is in your control, and you can master it! As a result of choosing to be good or evil, you effectively choose to be joyful or anguished.”
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