Why are idolaters (ovdei
kochavim) lustful? Because they did not stand at Mount Sinai. For when the
serpent came upon Eve he injected a lust into her: [as for] the Israelites who stood at
Mount Sinai, their lustfulness departed; the idolaters, who did not stand at
Mount Sinai, their lustfulness did not depart.
Both lust and control are creations of G-d, and we humans
live in balance. Torah, according to rabbinic understand, is the tool of counterbalance
to our lustful natures – the laws teach us self-control.
R. Aha son of Raba asked R. Ashi.
What about proselytes?
Though they were not present, their
guiding stars (mazleyhu
or “their mazal”) were present, as it is written, [Neither with
you only do I make this covenant and this oath], but with him that standeth
here with us this day before the Lord our God, and also with him that is not
here with us this day. (Deut. 29:14)
Torah is freely available to all (they were there and Sinai as well!) and the ability to modify
our behavior over against our more base desires is G-d's gift.
And a different
understanding of “Mazel Tov” !
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