Sept. 27, 2023

Overcoming Sin with Strategic Distraction: Exploring the the Holiday of Sukkos and the Power of Purposeful Activity

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Season 5

What if the key to overcoming sin was not a titanic battle of wills but a simple matter of strategic distraction? Strap in as we explore this compelling idea from the heart of Jewish thought, using the holiday Pasek as our guide. We delve into the Midrash, a Jewish commentary, to challenge traditional command interpretations to gather the Four Species on the holiday's first day. The twist? The Midrash suggests this first day kicks off our tally of sins, including the usually overlooked days between Yom Kippur and Sukkis.

But don't despair; the Shlah brings hope, arguing we're too busy with holiday prep even to consider sinning. This idea threads neatly into the Mussar concept, suggesting that we can avoid life's biggest challenges by preventing boredom and engaging in activities that maintain our interests. Taking our cue from the Mishnah in Abos, we learn how to balance our worldly duties and spiritual studies, allowing us to 'forget' sin by remaining preoccupied with meaningful tasks. So, join us on this enlightening journey as we learn how to tackle corruption, not by wrestling it but by replacing it with purposeful activity.

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Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com



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You're not going to believe this, but when the Medrish seeks to explain the Pasek regarding our holiday, in which the Pasek says Ulakachtem lochem biyom ha-Rishon, that on the very first day, biyom ha-Rishon, you shall take for yourself the Four Species, the Palm, fraun and the Etchrog, amongst other species.

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That's when we're supposed to take them.

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Nope, says the Medrish.

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This it means that it's the first day of the accounting of your sins.

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Yalkachtem MR 651.

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It means the first day of accounting of our sins.

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There's days in between Yom Kippur and Sukkis that, god forbid, was also counted for sins, is the shlal.

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Listen to this is no-ra-unbelievable awesome.

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No, the first day of possible time to sin is Sukkis, because before that we're so busy in a frenzy of preparing for the holiday, says the shlal, there isn't any time to sin, from the preparations to our clothing, to the lulah, to the Esrg, to the Sukkah, so many to arise us.

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There's frankly no time to sin.

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And this brings us to the Mus'ar idea that you can sidestep and totally forget about some of your biggest struggles in life.

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When you ditch boredom and you stay involved, you stay in an environment that has your interest, literally in the most basic way.

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You can't forget sin, and it's not the shlal.

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It seems that the Mishnah in Abos tells us Torah with Derek Eritz.

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If you have a job or busy with something, derek Eritz, maybe Midos, maybe Aparnasa, but you also have Torah together.

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Beshneim says the Mishnah Mishchachas Avon, you just disregard sin.

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But Mishchachas literally means to forget.

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You can literally forget about sin, for everyone knows a busy person.

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What do you mean?

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I should just stay home and just hang out on the couch and God forbid get caught up in sin or be like the Yoshive Chronos, in which the individuals that hang out on street corners where the Satan feasts.

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God forbid.

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Boredom is the quickest way to get stuck in sin.

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Busy yourself with mitzvoth, feel a certain excitement, stay busy, stay involved with Torah and Hashem.

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Maybe it's a job, maybe it's something, but the secret is here.

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You can forget all about your struggles and the evil inclination.

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You ditch boredom.

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You learn to stay busy.

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That's simple.