| "And Yehudah turned toward her" (Bereishit 38:16).
While traveling along the road, Yehudah encountered a woman whom he mistook for a prostitute. Overcome by his Negative Impulse (yetzer hara), he engaged with her. To his surprise, this woman was not a stranger, but Tamar, his daughter-in-law. From this union, she became pregnant and gave birth to twins: Peretz and Zerach. Peretz, in turn, became the ancestor of the Davidic dynasty. Many generations later, Peretz's descendant, Boaz—the most respected man of his time—married Ruth, the Moabite princess who had converted to Judaism. Their marriage sparked considerable controversy due to its perceived inappropriateness.
This story reveals a profound truth: the most exalted outcomes are hidden beneath layers of complexity and deception. Why does this happen? The sitra achra (the force of negativity) obstructs the path to holiness. As a result, the journey leading to the arrival of the Mashiach must, in some way, be concealed or disguised.
This narrative teaches us an important lesson. Sometimes, the path to redemption and spiritual elevation may not be straightforward or easily understood.
Today: Be encouraged to think "outside the box" and take actions—perhaps unconventional ones—with the hope that they will contribute to bringing about the final redemption.
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