The Secret of Da'as: How to Distinguish Between Good and Evil in the World of Asiyah

Lesson No. 267 | Continuation of Wednesday, Parashas Noach, Eve of 4 Cheshvan 5761

In the mixed World of Asiyah (Action), it is almost impossible to distinguish between good and evil without receiving \

When approaching the Kisei HaKavod (Throne of Glory), one sees the holiness of the festivals: The Aramaic word for throne, 'Kursaya', is an acronym for Keseh (Rosh Hashanah), Yom Kippur, Sukkos, and Shemini Atzeres. During these days, the building of the spiritual worlds takes place, but the completion of the process depends on receiving Da'as (Divine knowledge). On Rosh Hashanah, there is only the aspect of Chochmah (Wisdom) and Binah (Understanding), whereas Da'as is only received on Yom Kippur.

What is this Da'as? There is the aspect of Binah—the ability to deduce one thing from another and to draw comparisons. But Da'as is the true ability to distinguish between good and evil. The holy Arizal writes in Etz Chaim that here, in the World of Asiyah (the physical realm of action), it is almost impossible to discern what is good and what is evil. Therefore, the verse states:

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil"

The Danger of Naivety and the Lie of Korach

Even in the World of Atzilus (Emanation), where the majority is good and only a minority is evil, a person still faces struggles. The Generation of the Wilderness ascended to the level of Atzilus at the Giving of the Torah, their spiritual impurity ceased, and they saw Hashem face to face. And yet, Korach disputed with Moshe, they made the Golden Calf, and the Spies sinned. The struggle in Atzilus is indeed easier—one can easily discern that the Golden Calf is forbidden, and that Moshe is speaking the truth when he calls them to enter the Land of Israel. But then Korach comes along, convinces everyone that Moshe is a liar, and the entire congregation gathers against Moshe and Aharon, claiming, "You have killed the people of Hashem."

How did this madness grip the entire Jewish people? A man who split the sea for them, brought down the Torah, struck the Egyptians with Ten Plagues—and suddenly they believe Korach? The Jewish people are a naive nation; they immediately believe every lie. In the media, they can present the enemies of Israel as sweet, noble-hearted people, and religious Jews as wicked haters of Zion—and people immediately believe it. Some crazy Korach comes along, says that Moshe Rabbeinu is insane, and within a second, they believe him.

The one who saved the situation was one simple woman—the wife of On ben Peles. She said to her husband: "Have you gone crazy? Did you fall on your head?" She saw the simple truth and saved him from the dispute.

Rescuing the Woman from the Snake

This tendency to believe lies is the punishment for the sin of Adam HaRishon (the First Man), who believed the snake and left his wife in the hands of the snake. A man must take his wife and rescue her from the snake. A woman who does not hear words of Torah hears the snake. She goes to the grocery store, hears gossip, hears lies from friends, and is liable to believe them.

An avreich (Torah scholar) who leaves his wife at home while there is a Torah class for women, and sits with her to indulge in food and a false sense of shalom bayis (marital harmony)—is lacking in fear of Heaven. Everyone must bring his wife to Torah classes, even if it requires mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) and giving up comfort. Therefore, the Bnei Yissaschar says, they made a great tikkun (rectification) in the women's section, that all the women should come to see the dancing and the singing, so that they do not remain disconnected and influenced by street talk.

The Lesson from the Shunammite Woman

We learn this halachah from the Shunammite woman. She would run every Shabbos and every Rosh Chodesh to hear a Torah class from Elisha the Prophet. Her husband asked her:

"Why are you going to him today? It is neither Rosh Chodesh nor Shabbos"

From here the Gemara learns (Ein Yaakov, Tractate Rosh Hashanah) that a person is obligated to visit his Rebbe on the festivals, on Rosh Chodesh, and on Shabbos. The Rif explains that from here we see that there is permission, and even an obligation, for women as well to go and hear Torah classes. Today, when there are Rebbetzins who give classes with a mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) that pierces the heavens, this obligation exists all the more so.

The Danger of the World of Asiyah

One must know that in this world, even if a person has merited tremendous spiritual illuminations, the body is still drawn to comfort, to eating, and to drinking. The Arizal explains the difference between the spiritual worlds: In the World of Beriah (Creation), it is half good and half evil, but it is not yet mixed, and one can distinguish between them. In the World of Yetzirah (Formation), it is already mixed. But in the World of Asiyah (Action)—the majority is evil and only a minority is good.

Whoever is in the World of Asiyah needs great mercy, because the evil appears to him as sweet and wonderful. How can one distinguish? Only through Da'as. And this Da'as, which distinguishes between good and evil, is received only through learning Torah, prayers, and crying out to Hashem.

Part 3 of 3 — Lesson No. 267

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