The Way of G-d 2:6:4<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
G-d allowed for a prosecutor in His court, famously known as satan<\/em> 1<\/sup>. His role is to argue against the accused, which them enables the Judge to come to a detailed decision 2<\/sup>. After all, G-d\u2019s ways are fair and good, so He doesn\u2019t arrive at a decision until a prosecutor make his claims 3<\/sup> \u2013 even though G-d already knows the status of the defendant 4<\/sup>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 2.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This phenomenon also has its rules as to how and when it\u2019s to come into play. Thus we\u2019re taught that satan<\/em> \u201cmakes his claims during times of danger\u201d (Bereishit Rabba<\/em> 91:9), for example; that \u201cthree things bring a person\u2019s sins into focus\u201d (Ibid. 55a) 5<\/sup>; and the like 6<\/sup>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Footnotes:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>See Job 1:6 and 2:1, Zachariah 3:1-2, and Psalms 109:6.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n See Pitchei<\/em> Chochma<\/em> v\u2019Da\u2019at<\/em> 126 and Clallei<\/em> Pitchei<\/em> Chochma<\/em> v\u2019Da\u2019at<\/em> 8.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>The term satan<\/em> is less heinous than it\u2019s assumed to be. Its Hebrew root is \u05e9\u05d8 which means \u201cside\u201d. As such, it means one who turns aside or away from, or opposes something or someone; hence his designation as a prosecutor.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>Indeed, a court would need both a justice for the defense and a prosecutor if the truth were to be determined.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>See Zohar 3:99b1. Also see 2:6:2-3 above regarding G-d\u2019s foreknowledge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>That is, there are three inauspicious instances (among others of course) in which a person\u2019s sins are brought into focus by satan<\/em>: When that person stands against \u201can unsound wall, (when he) examines (the efficacy of his) prayers, and when he asks for someone else to be punished by Heaven\u201d.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n 6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/sup>In times of plenty, for example (Bereishit<\/em> Rabba<\/em> 38:9).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n (c) 2022 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n ———————————————————-<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Rabbi Feldman’s new annotated translation of Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag\u2019s \u201cIntroduction to the Zohar\u201d is available as \u201cThe Kabbalah of Self\u201d on Kindle here<\/a>. His annotated translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> and his annotated translation of Rabbeinu Yonah\u2019s “The Gates of Repentance” is available here<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n He has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes torah.org entitled \u201cSpiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d that can be subscribed to.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Way of G-d 2:6:4 1. G-d allowed for a prosecutor in His court, famously known as satan 1. His role is to argue against the accused, which them enables the Judge to come to a detailed decision 2. After … Continue reading