The Light Inside | Rabbi Asher Steinmetz

Is there an antidote, is there a formula, something we can utilize to give us power to overcome this challenge of Shmiras Einayim? Says R’ Chaim Volozhiner: Yes, there is. And that is... prayer. Says R’ Chaim Volozhiner, When one wakes up in the morning, he should recite and say a prayer, asking Hashem for Siyata d’Shmaya, for heavenly assistance. And he goes as far as to pen for us a prayer. Ribono shel Olam, I am going in a גיא צלמוות, in a dangerous place. Save me from the Yetzer Hara. And R’ Chaim Volozhiner concludes, Hashem will save you. And the language of R’ Chaim Volozhiner is very challenging. גיא צלמוות, explains Rashi in Tehillim, means Here it's bright and early. I'm going out in the morning, getting in my car, the glare of the sun is on my windshield, and we're saying: I am going in the valley of darkness? R’ Shlomo Freifeld was a Rosh Yeshiva in America in Sh’or Yoshuv in Far Rockaway. And he was a Rosh Yeshiva to many students and taught them Torah, but more than that, he taught Yiddishkeit. An interesting episode occurred when a famous celebrity, a musical celebrity, a Yid that unfortunately went off. He came once for a Shabbos for a Simcha, and the Yeshiva gave clear instructions there will be no hero worship. He'll be treated like a regular person. And he came for Shabbos, he joined the Bochurim. He joined the Shabbos meals. He joined them in the stuffy dining room. And R’ Shlomo Freifeld asked R’ Shmuel Brazil, of Regesh fame, to sing R’ Meir Shapiro's song, My heart and body, my heart, my heart and body, my heart and body cry out with joy to the living God. And over that Shabbos, this soul was ignited. He came back to R’ Shlomo Freifeld’s house, a couple of days later, and spoke to him for a long time. And when he came out, the paparazzi were there. All those reporters that always wait around these type of people. And they asked him for a statement. It was a cold, dark winter night, and he turned to them and said, It may be dark outside, but in there, in there, it's full of light. The Pasuk says in Koheles, The wise man has his eyes in his head but the fool walks in darkness. Possibly the first book written on the concept of Shmiras Einayim is a book called Machazeh Einayim, a book written by the Brisker Maggid, a disciple of the Chofetz Chaim, someone who was close to R’ Chaim Brisker, and he explains this Pasuk, Someone who doesn't give a try and attempt to grow in this area is walking in darkness. It may be light outside, but it's dark inside himself. But a wise man, someone who focuses, gives attention, tries to grow in this arena, his eyes are in his head, he will merit, when he comes to the World to Come, לחזות בנועם השם to see the deliciousness and the delight of the World to Come. Says R’ Chaim Volozhiner, When a person wakes up in the morning, it may be bright and beautiful and light outside, but I am walking in the valley of darkness. If we don't invest a prayer, some effort in this area, with all the light outside, it could be dark inside. But us, who listen and grow and try in this arena, we ask Hashem, Save me from the Yetzer Hara. Even if it's dark and full of challenges outside, it's light inside. And like R’ Chaim Volozhiner promises, ויושיעהו השם Hashem will surely save us. Amen, may it be His will.