Reply To: Toras Avigdor

Q:
In davening we ask Hashem, ??? ??????? ?? ???? ????? – Don’t bring us into a situation of being tested. Why do we ask Hashem to help us avoid all ???????, all forms of spiritual tests, if the whole reason we are in this world is to face our tests, pass them and become great thereby?

A:
We ask Hashem, ?? ??????? ?? ???? ?????. Why? And the answer is that among the tests that Hashem sends upon us is the success of avoiding the test. If we successfully avoid a test, let’s say, you are ???? ?? ?????? – you run away from the possibility of a sin, then you have successfully passed the test. Any form of keeping away from the ????? is the most successful way of dealing with the ?????.

Anybody who comes close to a ????? willingly is already blameworthy. And even though he succeeds in overcoming the temptation, he is blamed. Why did you bring yourself close to the sin?! He is blamed for that. You should be afraid of an ?????. You should run away from the possibility of sin. There’s no need to look for tests. You’re facing them all day long. All day! And you’re not even aware of most of them. So whatever you can do to avoid them is already a success.

And therefore, we have many ????? in the ?? ?????, many Rabbinic restrictions, that are intended for the sole purpose of protecting us from ???????.

You should never look for ???????. Never look for tests! That itself is a successful reaction to the problems that are facing us. ??? ???? ?? ??????. Avoid the problems that you can avoid. That itself is a great success.
TAPE # E-195