The Library

I enjoy life and see the world as a beautiful place. What is meant by the "deceptive nature" of the world?

On Day 11, we discussed the importance of developing a deep awareness of Hashem. Another concept related to this is what Rabbi Salanter calls "Wisdom of the World."

"It is important to deepen our understanding of the ways of the world, which are deceptive. The various temptations of the world entrap people in their web, each person according to his own tendencies." [This understanding of the world is called Wisdom of the World.] (Ohr Yisrael, Letter Four)

It's true that G-d created a beautiful world. But it would be naive for us to overlook the fact that seeing the world's enticements are the primary cause of sin and self-destruction.

In fact, the very first episode in the Torah describes how Eve fell into deception and awesome devastation. The serpent urged her to eat the forbidden fruit so that she would gain true wisdom. While the serpent's enticement did awaken a desire to eat the fruit, it was not strong enough to convince her to violate G-d's commandment.

What convinced her to actually eat the fruit? She looked at the tree and it "was a delight to the eyes." (Bereishit 3:6) The sight of the fruit evoked a desire that overwhelmed her. She ate the fruit and then convinced Adam to eat it as well. As a result, death came into the world and they were both expelled from the Garden of Eden.

Throughout the Torah, we find examples of the power of vision to cause calamity. You may not have noticed this wording before. Here are a few examples:

• When Cain saw that only Abel's sacrifice was accepted by G-d, he was overcome with jealousy. He murdered his brother and suffered unspeakable consequences.

• When Ham saw his father, Noah, was unclothed, he disgraced him.

• When Lot saw the fertile plains of Sodom, he left Avraham and went to live there among evil people. He lost his spirituality and was nearly destroyed in the obliteration of Sodom.

• When Avimelech saw how beautiful Sarah was, he took her to his palace. He and his household were then stricken with a terrible illness.

• When Yosef's brothers saw that Yaakov gave him a special coat, they were blinded by envy. They sold their brother into slavery, greatly hurting Yaakov and tearing apart the family.

Samson was the strongest man, David the most pious, and Solomon the wisest. Nevertheless, each one of these great and holy men stumbled when caught in the gravitational field of a woman. (Sefer Chasidim)

If this danger existed in biblical times, how much more so is it prevalent in our times?

Today, society exploits human weakness in order to manipulate others for its own benefit. Television, movies, advertisements, magazines, the entertainment industry and the internet use images of women to entice men. They have one goal: to increase sales. Showing a pretty woman is high on their list of sure ways to get a man's attention.

When we contemplate the powerful seductions that pulsate in the world around us, we start to attain the Wisdom of the World needed to help us control our eyes. This wisdom gives us the insight to live a wholesome life. This wisdom is gained by focusing on the following four strategies:

(1) Recognize the enticing nature of the world. For instance, as you walk through town, every fast-food place tries to tempt you: Sizzling steaks, mouth-watering ice cream, the tantalizing aroma of fresh coffee, chewy bagels, ice-cold coke, fresh pastry, and piping hot pizza. Yes, it's instant gratification, but at what a cost!

(2) Understand that there are appetites in human nature that are triggered by sensory attractions. What's more, it's very difficult to resist desire because desire is rooted in the subconscious. Before you smelled the pizza, you weren't even thinking about eating. But once the aroma hits your olfactory sense, your craving for pizza is aroused and you eat.

(3) Know that surrendering to your cravings can be detrimental to your well-being.

(4) Prepare a plan in advance to protect yourself from being entrapped by your physical desires.

Today: Be aware of the enticing forces surrounding you. Guard your eyes from the images that try to manipulate your senses.

Steve's Journal

Today we had a meeting with the marketing department to talk about how we will sell our new line of software. I had prepared what I thought was a pretty good mock-up of an ad, with a picture of the computer screen, pointing out all of the advantages of the new product. I even wrote a blurb about how it could give your business an edge over the competition. I showed it at the meeting. The marketing guys had a peculiar reaction to it.

"There's gotta be a girl in the picture," one of them replied, as though he were explaining it to a two-year-old. "Didn't you ever take Marketing 101 in college? It's basic."

"Yeah," another one said, "we want businessmen to really take a look. We need something they can't resist."

I was floored. I found myself stammering "But, but this is accounting software. There's no reason..."

"A secretary!" one of them shouted. "That's it! We show her using the software on her computer. She's smiling because it's so easy. We can put her boss standing near her, looking on approvingly ..."

I gave up. There was no arguing with them. But the whole incident made me stop and notice the advertising around me. Somehow, till I saw them actually scheming, the fact that marketing guys in every industry are manipulating me never sank in before. I felt like they had used the power of my own eyes against me, and I felt humiliated.

I can't change how these characters try to sell me their products, but from now on, I'll be smarter and not fall for their cheap tricks. They can't make me look.

These e-mails are excerpts taken from the book "Windows of the Soul" by Rabbi Zvi Miller of the Salant Foundation.