We are approaching the end of the first of the four sections we are going to be dealing with when it comes to guarding one’s eyes. The first section was about rewards for guarding one’s eyes. The second was advice. The third section is about holiness. The fourth section was about inspiration to continue in the ways of guarding one’s eyes.
We have already given ten different rewards that are granted for guarding one’s eyes. Today we’re going through the final, eleventh reward. Before we do, we’re going to have a quick recap of the first ten. The first was that if a person guards their eyes, they will merit to see the radiance and light of God in the world to come. Their eyes will be able to recognize it. The second was that when a person overcomes the temptation to look at something improper, they benefit not only themselves but also their children and descendants. By doing so, they also help their children and descendants overcome these same temptations. The third was that a person with pure, clean eyes will be able to understand the Torah. Otherwise, they’ll have a much harder time. The fourth was that when a person overcomes the temptation, they not only benefit themselves; they also help others overcome the temptation to look at something inappropriate. Just by one person overcoming it, they bring that strength into the world and help others hopefully overcome it as well. The fifth was that when a person guards their eyes, they acquire a tremendous power of prayer: their prayers are answered at the same level as those of a Kohen Gadol, the high priest, who is a prophet and would bring a sacrifice, which is obviously the highest of levels. The sixth was that the very fact that Shemirat Einayim, guarding one’s eyes, is so difficult means that when a person overcomes that difficulty, they are rewarded even more. As we mentioned, the Mishnah says that a person is rewarded according to how much effort they put into it and how hard it is. Since guarding one’s eyes is so difficult, the reward is also tremendous. The eighth reward for guarding one’s eyes is that God Himself becomes a guarantor. He guarantees that if a person really, really, really fights hard, overcomes looking at inappropriate things, and guards their eyes, the evil inclination will not be able to control or overcome them. And he was hosted by a very important person. The ninth was that a person who guards their eyes and does not derive enjoyment from things that are prohibited to them will enjoy much greater things in ways that are permitted to them. The tenth, which we mentioned last class, was that a person who guards their eyes will eventually merit to see the third and final Beit HaMikdash built. They will also be able to recognize God’s signature and the fact that He is the Creator of the world, and His great and infinite wisdom in the world, in nature, and in the Torah that we learn.
Now we’re going to go through the eleventh and final reward. It comes from a concept that Mesillat Yesharim, the Ramchal, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto from Italy, tells us about. He tells us that the concept of holiness is actually two-sided. He says, “Techilato avodah v’sofo gemul”: when a person is working on their levels of purity and holiness, at first it’s hard work, but then it comes and it ends off with reward. He also says, “Techilato hishtadlut v’sofo matana”: The beginning is hard effort, and at the end it comes easy to a person. He says that when a person works hard on trying to connect to HaKadosh Baruch Hu, connecting to Hashem, the strength of their connection with Hashem is going to be based on how holy and pure they are. Hashem Himself is completely holy and pure. So, in order for us to be, so to say, compatible with Hashem and to get closer to Him, we have to attain levels of holiness and purity. He says the way to do so is obviously by guarding one’s eyes and thoughts in order to come closer. It’s not by chance that Eliyahu HaNavi and his student Elisha were able to reach levels of techiyat ha-metim, of resurrecting the dead. He says it was because they maintained a very strong level of holiness and purity when it came to their eyes, their thoughts, and what they spoke about, and this is what allowed them to reach such a high level. He says that Kedushah brings a person even to Ruach HaKodesh. That holiness, sanctity, brings a person to the level of having divine inspiration, and then divine inspiration can bring a person to the level of techiyat ha-metim, of resurrecting the dead. That is how important a person is. So again, a person who guards their eyes is able to reach higher and higher levels and cling to the Almighty in a much stronger way.
To end this section, we’re going to say something that Rabbeinu Yerucham, who was the Mashgiach (spiritual supervisor) of the Mir Yeshiva, Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz, zecher tzaddik livracha (May the memory of a righteous person be a blessing), said. He told the following story—or, it’s not really a story; it’s an observation. One time, he was visiting the city of Vilna, in the community, and when he was at an individual’s house, he peeked out of the window and saw a school across the street, which would be the equivalent nowadays of a public school, a public high school. He saw boys and girls, ages 15, 16 and up, all coming to the school. They were Jews and non-Jews. He thought to himself that if they were all going to the school, they must have a great curriculum: they were learning well, there were professionals, they were reviewing the material, taking tests and passing them, getting a diploma, and finishing with a certain track to continue on to university. They must be doing very, very well.
But then, looking at those kids, he thought to himself—and I wouldn’t say this myself; I couldn’t. I obviously agree with it, but I couldn’t say it myself. The great rabbi said it. He said he looked at these children and they were goofing around, they’re light-headedness, they’re speaking derogatory, improper, swear words—all of the things that we see nowadays in many public schools. He thought to himself, “What would happen if a woman came into a Beit Midrash, into the study hall, during the hours when the yeshiva or study hall is packed with men and they’re all concentrating and learning?” Unfortunately, he says, it would bring a tremendous lack of concentration; no one would be able to continue learning. It’s just not the right place for it. He was in great wonder: How could it be that these people were all coming together, learning difficult things and hard subjects, succeeding in them, and sitting together, boys and girls, in the very same class? He just could not wrap his head around the fact that the boys were even able to concentrate until he understood. He said there’s a very big difference between secular studies and Torah studies. There is a great need for secular studies. However, you can’t compare them to the study of any topic in Torah, because Torah is holy and pure, and holiness and purity cannot tolerate any impurity. Secular studies have no holiness to them, so, so to say, as he explained, they can tolerate impurity. You could have boys and girls sitting together for secular studies. It’s obviously not the most conducive. Even modern tests have proven that there are still many prep schools nowadays that are not co-ed, because they understand that the brain, especially that of adolescents as they’re growing up, has a very hard time concentrating when the opposite gender is with them. Nevertheless, secular studies can be successful if they do have co-ed classes, but a Torah class, especially for adolescents, is absolutely not going to be able to be successful because the Torah is pure and holy and cannot tolerate any impurity. And obviously, as we know, when boys and girls hang out together, it brings lightheadedness and could lead to things that are definitely inappropriate, and we hope there should be none of that.
So selecting the right school for our children also matters in setting them up for success. I’m not going to say that putting your children in an all-boys school or an all-girls school is going to take care of all the problems, but at least you’re sparing them that obvious temptation, that obvious distraction. May Hashem bless us to raise our children in the right way, and bless us so that we’ll also be able to control our own eyes. In the merit of learning about all these rewards, we should, B’ezrat Hashem and the help of God, make great efforts in guarding our eyes. Amen, Ve’amen (Amen, and amen).