"With all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might"

Synopsis

Rabbi Yitzchak here asks why "and with all your soul" is necessary when the scripture already says: "with all your heart," since love is aroused only from the heart. He then says that "with all your heart" means both the good heart and the evil heart, or Evil Inclination. Next, he asks why the word "all" is included in "with all your soul." Rabbi Elazar answers that the soul includes Nefesh, Ruach and Neshamah, adding that "all your might" means all your belongings. Love for God means to give Him all of this, and to love Him in everything. He then says that it is even possible for a person to love God with the evil inclination, for when this is subdued to Him, and the person breaks the evil inclination, he is showing love for God. He next tells of the Enticer, who is doing the will of the Holy One by tempting people from the true path and thus enabling them to show righteousness. The Enticer deserves praise, we learn, for he does the Holy One's command, and enables the righteous to inherit their supernal treasures in the world to come. Just as the side of life becomes strengthened when people do good, the other side, the Evil Inclination, becomes strengthened when the evil ones listen to him and he dominates them. Man, we are told finally, constantly becomes stronger with God, "Happy is the man whose strength is in You; in whose heart are Your highways."

Relevance

The ultimate act of deception by the Enticer - the negative angel, the Satan - is to convince a man that he (the Satan) does not really exist. Consequently, we believe that our self-indulgent desires, our covetous aspirations, and our egocentric wants originate from within our being. This is a mistake. He has convinced us that our enemy is some other person or some external problem instead of our own untamed, uncertain nature. All the while, he hides in the shadows of our minds, lurking in the dark recesses of our beings, so that we might never know he exists.

In truth, these selfish desires and negative, uncertain thoughts are implanted within us by the angel Satan. Yet, the Zohar reveals a deeply profound reason for his existence: it is in order that a man, through his own effort, may triumph over him, rejecting the momentary, illusionary pleasure that the Satan provides, for the authentic, eternal Light of the Creator. In this way, a man expresses the Godly nature that dwells within his soul.

This portion of text accomplishes many things. We grasp the role of evil in the world, perhaps the most perplexing and disturbing of all theological questions. We unlock our ability to recognize our Evil Inclination as a separate and distinct entity, unattached to our true soul consciousness. We kindle Light, which extinguishes darkness, exterminating the very roots of evil. And, by virtue of the above, we become the cause and creators of our own Light; thus, we fulfill our purpose in this world.

Heart Love Soul, The

668. Rabbi Yitzchak was present before Rabbi Elazar and said to him, Certainly, the love of the Holy One, blessed be He, that a person feels for Him is aroused only from the heart, for the heart is a place of awakening to arouse toward Him love. HE QUESTIONS, If so, why is it written, "With all your heart" and afterwards "and with all your soul," so it seems that there are two manners IN LOVE, one in the heart and one in the soul? If the heart is the essence, why is the soul necessary? He said to him, The heart and the soul are two and they join into one, for heart and soul and money all unite together, but the heart is the essence and foundation of everything.

668. רַבִּי יִצְחָק הֲוָה שְׁכִיחַ קָמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, אָמַר לֵיהּ, וַדַּאי רְחִימוּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא דְּבַר נָשׁ רָחִים לֵיהּ, לָא אִתְּעַר אֶלָּא מִלִּבָּא, בְּגִין דְּלִבָּא אִיהוּ אִתְעָרוּתָא לְאִתְּעָרָא לְגַבֵּיהּ רְחִימוּ, אִי הָכִי, אֲמַאי כְּתִיב בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ, וּלְבָתַר וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ. דְּמַשְׁמַע דִּתְרֵין גַּוְונִין אִינּוּן חַד לִבָּא, וְחַד נַפְשָׁא, אִי לִבָּא הוּא עִקָּרָא, מַאי בָּעֵי נַפְשָׁא. אָמַר לֵיהּ, וַדַּאי לִבָּא וְנַפְשָׁא תְּרֵין אִינּוּן, וְאִתְאַחֲדָן לְחָד. דְּהָא לִבָּא וְנַפְשָׁא וּמָמוֹנָא, כֻּלְּהוּ אִתְאַחֲדָן דָּא בְּדָא, וְלִבָּא אִיהוּ עִקָּרָא וִיסוֹדָא דְּכֹלָּא.

Evil Evil Inclination Good Inclination Heart

669. וְהָא דְּאִתְּמַר בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ, בִּתְרֵין לְבֵין אִיהוּ, דְּאִינְהוּ תְּרֵין יִצְרִין, חַד יִצְרָא טָבָא, וְחַד יִצְרָא בִּישָׁא, וּתְרֵין אִלֵּין כָּל חַד וְחַד לֵב אִקְרֵי בַּל, דָּא אִקְרֵי לֵב טוֹב, וְדָא אִקְרֵי לֵב רָע. וּבְגִין כַּךְ אִיהוּ לְבָבְךָ, דְּאִינּוּן תְּרֵין, יֵצֶר הַטּוֹב וְיֵצֶר הָרָע.

Love Silver Soul, The Stones

670. HE QUESTIONS, It should have said, 'And with your soul.' Why does it say, "And with all your soul?" Why is 'all' said?" HE ANSWERS, It comes to include Nefesh, Ruach and Neshamah, for this is the meaning of, "And with all your soul" all that pertains to this soul "and with all your might." WHY DOES IT SAY 'ALL?' IT IS because there are many kinds of substance, for they are all different one from another, NAMELY SILVER, PRECIOUS STONES AND SO ON. Therefore, it says, "and with all YOUR MIGHT" MEANING WITH ALL HIS BELONGINGS, because the love for the Holy One, blessed be He, means to give Him all this, and to love Him in everything.

670. וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ, וּבְנַפְשְׁךָ מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ, מַאי וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ, הַאי בְּכָל אֲמַאי. אֶלָּא לְאַכְלְלָא נפ"ש ורו"ח ונשמ"ה, דָּא אִיהוּ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ, בְּכָל מַה דְּאָחִיד הַאי נֶפֶשׁ. וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ, אוּף הָכִי כַּמָה זִינִין אִינּוּן דְּמָמוֹנָא, כֻּלְּהוּ מְשַׁנְיָין אִלֵּין מֵאִלֵּין, וְע"ד כְּתִיב בְּכָל. רְחִימוּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, לְמִמְסָר לֵיהּ כָּל דָּא, לְמִרְחַם לֵיהּ בְּכָל חַד וְחַד.

Evil Evil Inclination Love

671. If you ask, How is it possible for a person to love THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, with the Evil Inclination, for the Evil Inclination persecutes so that the person should not approach the service of the Holy One, blessed be He? So how is it possible to love HIM with it? HE ANSWERS, This is an even MORE PRECIOUS MANNER of serving Hashem, for when this Evil Inclination is subdued to Him and that person breaks him, this is the love of the Holy One, blessed be He. Because he knows how to bring close the Evil Inclination to the service of the Holy One, blessed be He.

671. וְאִי תֵּימָא, בְּיֵצֶר הָרָע הֵיךְ יָכִיל בַּר נָשׁ לְמִרְחַם לֵיהּ, דְּהָא יֵצֶר הָרָע מְקַטְרְגָא אִיהוּ, דְּלָא יִקְרַב בַּר נָשׁ לְפוּלְחָנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְהֵיךְ יְרָחִים לֵיהּ בֵּיהּ. אֶלָּא, דָּא אִיהוּ פּוּלְחָנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יַתִּיר, כַּד הַאי יֵצֶר הָרָע אִתְכַּפְיָא לֵיהּ, בְּגִין רְחִימוּ דְּקָא מִרְחַם לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. דְּכַד הַאי יֵצֶר הָרָע אִתְכַּפְיָא, וְתָבַר לֵיהּ הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ, דָּא אִיהוּ רְחִימוּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בְּגִין דִּיְדִיעַ לְקָרְבָא לְהַהוּא יֵצֶר הָרָע, לְפוּלְחָנָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.

Evil Judgment Merit

672. Here is the secret of those who know Judgment. For everything that the Holy One, blessed be He, made above and below is all only to show His honor, and everything is for His service. Who saw a servant go against his master?! Whatever is the will of his master, he becomes an Inciter NOT TO DO THE WILL OF HIS MASTER. The will of the Holy One, blessed be He, is that people should be constantly in His service, and that they should go in the true path in order to merit much good. Since this is the will of the Holy One, blessed be He, how could an evil servant come and incite against the will of his Master and turn people to the evil path and thrust them from the good path and cause them not to do the will of their Master, and turn people to the evil path?

672. הָכָא אִיהוּ רָזָא לְמָארֵי מִדִין. כָּל מַה דַּעֲבַד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עֵילָּא וְתַתָּא, כֹּלָּא אִיהוּ בְּגִין לְאַחֲזָאָה יְקָרָא דִּילֵיהּ, וְכֹלָּא אִיהוּ לְפוּלְחָנֵיהּ. וְכִי מַאן חָמֵי עַבְדָּא, דְּלֶהֱוֵי מְקַטְרְגָא דְּמָארֵיהּ, וּבְכָל מַה דִּרְעוּתֵיהּ דְּמָארֵיהּ, אִתְעָבֵיד אִיהוּ מְקַטְרְגָא, רְעוּתֵיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דִּיהוֹן בְּנֵי נָשָׁא תָּדִיר בְּפוּלְחָנֵיהּ, וְיֵהָכוּן בְּאֹרַח קְשׁוֹט, בְּגִין לְמִזְכֵּי לוֹן בְּכַמָּה טָבִין, הוֹאִיל וּרְעוּתֵיהּ דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּהַאי, הֵיךְ אַתְיָא עַבְדָּא בִּישָׁא, וְאִשְׁתְּכַח מְקַטְרְגָא מִגּוֹ רְעוּתֵיהּ דְּמָארֵיהּ, וְאַסְטֵי לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא לְאֹרַח בִּישׁ, וְאַדְחֵי לוֹן מֵאֹרַח טָב, וְעָבֵיד לוֹן דְּלָא יַעַבְדוּן רְעוּתָא דְּמָארֵיהוֹן, וְאַסְטֵי לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא לְאֹרַח בִּישׁ.

Evil Love Women

673. אֶלָּא, וַדַּאי רְעוּתֵיהּ דְּמָארֵיהּ עָבֵיד. לְמַלְכָּא דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ בַּר יְחִידָאִי, וַהֲוָה רָחִים לֵיהּ יַתִּיר, וּפָקִיד עֲלֵיהּ בִּרְחִימוּ, דְּלָא יִקְרַב גַּרְמֵיהּ לְאִתְּתָא בִּישָׁא, בְּגִין דְּכָל מַאן דְּיִקְרַב לְגַבָּהּ, לָאו כְּדַאי אִיהוּ לְאַעֲלָא גּוֹ פְּלַטְרִין דְּמַלְכָּא. אוֹדֵי לֵיהּ הַהוּא בְּרָא, לְמֶעְבַּד רְעוּתֵיהּ דַּאֲבוֹי בִּרְחִימוּ.

Harlotry Kisses

674. Outside of the king's palace was a harlot who was very beautiful to behold. After a few days, the king said, I want to see the wishes of my son toward me. He called that harlot and told her, Go and entice my son, in order to test the wishes of my son toward me. What did that harlot do? She went after the king's son and started to embrace him and kiss him and entice him with all kinds of enticements. If that son is proper and observes the commands of his father, he scolds her and does not listen to her and thrusts her away from him. Then the father rejoices with his son, brings him into the inner sanctum of his palace, and gives him presents and gifts and great honor. Who caused all this honor for that son? We must say that it was the harlot.

674. בְּבֵיתָא דְּמַלְכָּא, לְבַר, הֲוַת חֲדָא זוֹנָה, יָאֶה בְּחֵיזוּ, וּשְׁפִירָא בְּרֵיוָא. לְיוֹמִין אָמַר מַלְכָּא, בְּעֵינָא לְמֵחֱמֵי רְעוּתֵיהּ דִּבְרִי לְגַבָּאי. קָרָא לָהּ לְהַהִיא זוֹנָה, וְאָמַר לָהּ זִילִי וּתְפַתִּי לִבְרִי, לְמֵחֱמֵי רְעוּתֵיהּ דִּבְרִי לְגַבָּאי. הַהִיא זוֹנָה מַאִי עַבְדַת, אַזְלַת אֲבַתְרֵיהּ דִּבְרֵיהּ דְּמַלְכָּא שָׁרָאת לְחַבְּקָא לֵיהּ וּלְנַשְּׁקָא לֵיהּ, וּלְפַתֵּי לֵיהּ בְּכַמָּה פִּתּוּיִין. אִי הַהוּא בְּרָא יֵאוֹת, וְאָצִית לְפִקּוּדָא דַּאֲבוֹי, גָּעַר בָּהּ, וְלָא אָצִית לָהּ, וְדָחֵי לָהּ מִנֵּיהּ. כְּדֵין אָבוֹי חַדֵּי בִּבְרֵיהּ, וְאָעִיל לֵיהּ לְגוֹ פַּרְגּוֹדָא דְּהֵיכָלֵיהּ, וְיָהִיב לֵיהּ מַתְּנָן וּנְבִזְבְּזָא וִיקָּר סַגְיָא. מַאן גָּרִים כָּל הַאי יְקָר לְהַאי בְּרָא, הֲוֵי אֵימָא הַהִיא זוֹנָה.

Angel of Death Angels Evil Evil Inclination Harlotry Love Praise Righteous World to Come, The

675. HE QUESTIONS, Does that harlot deserve praise for this or not? HE SAYS, Certainly she deserves praise from all aspects, for she did the king's command and she brought that son all the good, all this love of the king toward him. Therefore, it is written, "And, behold, it was very good" (Beresheet 1:31). "And, behold, it was good" refers to the Angel of Life, while 'very' refers to the Angel of Death, THE EVIL INCLINATION, who is certainly very good, for he who fulfills the command of his master. Come and see, if there would not be this Enticer, then the righteous would not inherit those supernal treasures that are their share in the World to Come.

675. וְהַהִיא זוֹנָה אִית לָהּ שְׁבָחָא בְּהַאי אוֹ לָאו. וַדַּאי שְׁבָחָא אִית לָהּ מִכָּל סִטְרִין. חַד, דְּעַבְדַּת פִּקּוּדָא דְּמַלְכָּא. וְחַד, דְּגַרְמָת לֵיהּ לְהַהוּא בְּרָא, לְכָל הַהוּא טִיבוּ, לְכָל הַאי רְחִימוּ דְּמַלְכָּא לְגַבֵּיהּ. וְע"ד כְּתִיב, וְהִנֵּה טוֹב מְאֹד. וְהִנֵּה טוֹב, דָּא מַלְאָךְ חַיִּים. מְאֹד, דָּא מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת, דְּאִיהוּ וַדַּאי טוֹב מְאֹד, לְמַאן דְּאָצִית פִּקּוּדִין דְּמָארֵיהּ. וְתָא חֲזִי, אִי לָא יְהֵא הַאי מְקַטְרְגָא, לָא יַרְתוּן צַדִּיקַיָּא הָנֵי גִּנְזְיָא עִלָּאִין, דִּזְמִינִין לְיָרְתָא לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי.

Eyes World to Come, The

676. זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן דְּאִעְרָעוּ בְּהַאי מְקַטְרְגָא, וְזַכָּאִין אִינּוּן דְּלָא אִעֲרָעוּ בֵּיהּ. זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן דְּאִעְרָעוּ בֵּיהּ, וְאִשְׁתְּזִיבוּ מִנֵּיהּ, דִּבְגִינֵיהּ יָרְתִין כָּל אִינּוּן טָבִין, וְכָל אִינּוּן עִדּוּנִין, וְכָל אִינּוּן כִּסוּפִין דְּעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי, דְּעָלֵיהּ כְּתִיב עַיִן לָא רָאָתָה אֱלֹהִים זוּלָתְךָ.

Righteous Wicked Wickedness

677. וְזַכָּאִין אִינּוּן דְּלָא אִעֲרָעוּ בֵּיהּ, דִּבְגִינֵיהּ יָרְתִין גֵּיהִנָּם, וְאִטָרָדּוּ מֵאֶרֶץ הַחַיִּים, דְּהָא אִינּוּן חַיָּיבַיָּא דְּאִעְרָעוּ בֵּיהּ, הֲווֹ צַיְיתִין לֵיהּ, וְאִתְמַשְׁכוּ אֲבַתְרֵיהּ. וְעַל דָּא אִית לְצַדִּיקַיָּא לְמֶחְזַק לֵיהּ טָבִין דְּהָא בְּגִינֵיהּ יָרְתִין כָּל אִינּוּן טָבָאן וְעִדּוּנִין וְכִסּוּפִין לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי.

Angel of Death Angels Evil Evil Inclination Strength Wicked Wickedness

678. HE QUESTIONS, What is the benefit of the Enticer when the wicked listen to him? HE ANSWERS, He has no benefit, NEVERTHELESS he does the command of his Master. He becomes stronger because of this, for since he is evil, he gains strength when they do evil. The wicked does not become strengthened until he kills a person, and when he has slain people then he grows strong and mighty with his power, and he has satisfaction. So it is with that Enticer, NAMELY THE EVIL INCLINATION who is called the Angel of Death, who does not grow in strength with his power until he instigates people and persecutes them and kills them. Then he has satisfaction and becomes strong and mighty with his power.

678. תּוֹעַלְתָּא דְּהַאי מְקַטְרְגָא. כַּד חַיָּיבַיָּא צַיְיתִין לֵיהּ מַאי אִיהִי. אֶלָּא, אע"ג דְּלֵית לֵיהּ תּוֹעַלְתָּא, פִּקּוּדָא דְּמָארֵיהּ אִיהוּ עָבִיד. וְתוּ, דְּהָא אִתְתָּקַּף בְּגִין הַאי, הוֹאִיל וְאִיהוּ רָע, אִתְתָּקַּף כַּד עָבֵיד בִּישׁ. חַיָּיבָא לָא אִתְתָּקַּף עַד דְּקָטִיל בַּר נָשׁ, כֵּיוָן דְּקָטִיל בְּנֵי נָשָׁא, כְּדֵין אִתְתָּקַּף וְאִתְגַּבָּר בְּחֵילֵיהּ, וְאִית לֵיהּ נַיְיחָא. כַּךְ הַהוּא מְקַטְרְגָא, דְּאִתְקְרֵי מַלְאָךְ הַמָּוֶת, לָא אִתְגַּבָּר בְּחֵילֵיהּ, עַד דְּאַסְטֵי לִבְנֵי נָשָׁא, וּמְקַטְרֵג לוֹן, וְקָטִיל לוֹן, כְּדֵין אִית לֵיהּ נַיְיחָא, וְאִתְתָּקַף וְאִתְגַּבָּר בְּחֵילֵיהּ.

Evil Heart Merit Strength World to Come, The

679. Just as the side of life becomes strengthened when people are good and go in the straight path, this Enticer also becomes stronger and mightier when the evil listen to him and he dominates them. May the Merciful one save us. Blessed are they who merit to be victorious over him and to subdue him, so as to merit through him the World to Come. Man constantly grows stronger with the Holy King, as is certainly said, "Happy is the man whose strength is in You; in whose heart are Your highways" (Tehilim 84:6). Blessed are they in this world and in the World to Come.

679. כְּמָה דְּאִתְתָּקַּף סִטְרָא דְּחַיִּים, כַּד בְּנֵי נָשָׁא טָבִין, וְיֶהֱכוּן בְּאֹרַח מֵישָׁר. אוּף הָכִי, הַאי מְקַטְרְגָא אִתְתָּקַּף וְאִתְגַּבָּר, כַּד חַיָּיבַיָּא צַיְיתִין לֵיהּ, וְשָׁלִיט עָלַיְיהוּ. רַחֲמָנָא לִישֵׁזְבָן. וְזַכָּאִין אִינּוּן דְּזַכָּאָן לְנַצְחָא לֵיהּ, וּלְאַכְפְּיָא לֵיהּ, לְמִזְכֵּי בְּגִינֵיהּ לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי, וְאִתְתָּקַף בַּר נָשׁ בְּמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא תָּדִיר, ע"ד וַדַּאי אִתְּמַר, אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם עוֹז לוֹ בָךְ מְסִלּוֹת בִּלְבָבָם, זַכָּאִין אִינּוּן בְּהַאי עָלְמָא וּבְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי.