Parshiyot Tazria-M’tzora 

“When a woman has a discharge, of any blood that emerges from her body For 7 days she is then [ritually unclean] because of her menstruation” (Leviticus 15:19)

Rabbi Nachman taught  that everyone of the 70 nations of the world has its own evil character trait that is unique to that particular nation. However, sexual immorality is the universal evil that is found amongst all of the 70 nations. This desire is one of the hardest evil inclinations of all to overcome. Rabbi Nachman taught that the main test that a person is confronted with in this world involves overcoming sexual temptation. This is referred to in Hebrew as “tikkun habris”, which involves perfecting the Jewish People’s covenant with G-d. This covenant demands that no Jew should defile himself in anyway and especially in this area. The Zohar says that tikkun habris is one essential requirement that a Tzaddik (saint) must have to be considered a Tzaddik. Of all the righteous people mentioned in the Bible, it is only Joseph that is called by the term Tzaddik (saint). Joseph is given the title Tzaddik because he resisted the relentless advances of his master’s wife and remained pure. (Lekutai Halachot: Yorah Dayah: Hilchot Nidah 2:7) The marital relations of a Jewish couple is an act of sanctity on the highest level of holiness. The Talmud says: “When a man and a woman live properly, the Divine Presence rests between them” (Talmud: Sotah 17). In addition when a man and a woman live in sanctity, they cause this world to become unified with G-d. Marital relations derives spiritual energy from the north side of the Divine Presence. The north is where the forces of evil congregate. The Zohar says that initially the couple must first use their evil inclination to arouse their passions. This will allow the couple to potentially produce holy children. The evil inclination must be included in this very holy act. The only way to purify and neutralize the evil of this world is to descend into the source of the evil itself and refine and sanctify it. Marital relations, when performed with sanctity, is one of the holiest acts a person could do. This is why the forces of evil attach themselves so strongly to this area. The holier an item, the greater the evil that surrounds it. Evil surrounds the holy, because the forces of evil try to prevent anyone from having access to the holy. In addition, evil is always attracted to the holy, for evil derives its life force from only what it can extract from the holy. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to maintain one’s level of sanctity in any activity that is associated with having relations. Because the soul of every Jew is rooted in holiness, it has the capacity to convert the necessary component of the evil inclination’s part in this act into a complete act of holiness.