“Hashem spoke to Moshe saying…” (Bamidbar 5:11– 6:1)
In Sichos Rav Nosson Tzvi, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l explains: The Gemara teaches: “The topic of Nazir was juxtaposed with the topic of Sotah (a suspected adulteress), to teach that one who sees a Sotah at the time of her disgrace should abstain from wine” (Sotah 2b). The simple explanation is that one who had the rare experience of glimpsing the miraculous eradication of Tumah (impurity) must take the lesson to heart and spur himself to grow in serving Hashem, for otherwise, he will be left with nothing from the experience.
Another explanation offered by many commentaries is that when a person witnesses the disgrace of a Sotah, whose infidelity was revealed through the waters, he is exposed to licentiousness and impurity, and is liable to be affected by what he saw and be drawn after it. Therefore, he must build extra spiritual safeguards around himself to avoid stumbling similarly.
Rav Nosson Tzvi explains that the juxtaposition of these two topics of Nazir and Sotah illustrates just how devastating one single glance can be, and how it can cause a person to fall headlong into a downward spiral that ends in spiritual catastrophe. It also underscores how much effort we all must make to strengthen our shemiras einayim, guarding our eyes, by avoiding forbidden sights and gazing only upon that which is pure and holy.
I would like to share with you something amazing that I heard from Rav Yechiel Spero shlita: In his Haggadah Shel Pesach, Rav Shimon Schwab zt”l writes an incredible story about the Chazon Ish zt”l. On an extremely hot summer day, the Chazon Ish came outside of his apartment, with a blindfold in his hand. He called over to some young boys that were nearby, and he asked them if they would be willing to play a game with him. The boys knew who Chazan Ish was, and they thought it was quite unusual. After all, the Chazon Ish was not someone who played games – the Chazon Ish was quite serious-minded.
The Chazon Ish told the young boys that they will have a fun time. “I must go somewhere, and I would like to be blindfolded,” he said. “Tell me where to step, and where to stop.” The boys agreed to play the Chazon Ish’s game. Step by step, the boys directed the Chazon Ish until they finally arrived at their destination. When they arrived, the Chazon Ish asked the boys if they would mind waiting for him so they would be able to continue the game on the way back home. The boys agreed, and on the way home they played that same game, with the boys directing the Chazon Ish where to go.
What the Chazon Ish was really doing, only dawned on the boys decades later. The Chazon Ish did not want to have to go through the nisayon, the test of shemiras einayim (guarding one’s eyes). The Chazon Ish made his walk into a game! The boys would never realize, and the Chazon Ish was able to be protected from seeing something that can be damaging to his Neshama (soul). What Greatness! While we may not be expected to act on such a high level, we can all aspire to take small steps to add more Kedushah (holiness) to our lives. In merit of our efforts to guard our eyes may Hashem grant us success in all endeavors!
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