The Yetzer Hara
יצר הרעThe evil inclination — the inner adversary and the avodah of overcoming it. The Sfas Emes on the yetzer hara.
91 essays
Noach
Lech Lecha
Vayeira
Toldot
Vayetzei
- Transforming the yetzer hara into goodVayetzei · תרל"ה · Essay 2
- Drawing on Shabbos to refine the worldVayetzei · תרל"ז · Essay 1
- Yaakov and Esav as inner struggleVayetzei · תרמ"ג · Essay 3
- The stone on the well and the struggle for prayerVayetzei · תרמ"ד · Essay 3
- The inner well of tefillahVayetzei · תר"נ · Essay 2
- Torah rolls away the stone of concealmentVayetzei · תרס"ה · Essay 2
Vayishlach
- Jacob’s Mission and Spiritual GuardsVayishlach · תרל"ד · Essay 1
- Inner Strength Against the Yetzer HaraVayishlach · תרל"ה · Essay 3
- Spiritual Struggle for Future GenerationsVayishlach · תרל"ז · Essay 2
- Spiritual Battle and SurrenderVayishlach · תרל"ט · Essay 3
- Spiritual Warfare and the PatriarchsVayishlach · תרמ"ה · Essay 1
- Balancing Truth in Spiritual StruggleVayishlach · תרנ"ד · Essay 3
- Spiritual Struggle and RedemptionVayishlach · תרס"ג · Essay 2
Vayeshev
- Free Will Against TemptationVayeshev · תרל"ב · Essay 4
- Spiritual Renewal Through HumilityVayeshev · תרל"ג · Essay 2
- Mastering the Evil InclinationVayeshev · תרל"ג · Essay 3
- Spiritual Resistance to TemptationVayeshev · תרל"ג · Essay 4
- Spiritual Refinement Through TrialsVayeshev · תרל"ה · Essay 1
- Inner Strength Through OppositionVayeshev · תרל"ו · Essay 1
- Ceaseless Spiritual GrowthVayeshev · תרל"ו · Essay 2
- Self‑Sacrifice Against TemptationVayeshev · תרל"ז · Essay 5
- Spiritual Garments and TemptationVayeshev · תרמ"ז · Essay 2
- Daily Battle with the Yetzer HaraVayeshev · תרמ"ט · Essay 2
- Overcoming the Evil InclinationVayeshev · תר"נ · Essay 2
Mikeitz
- Inner Light vs. DarknessMikeitz · תרל"ד · Essay 1
- Good and Evil IntermixedMikeitz · תרל"ה · Essay 1
- Rising From the PitMikeitz · תרל"ו · Essay 2
- The Nature of DesireMikeitz · תרל"ו · Essay 6
- Spiritual Light Overcoming DarknessMikeitz · תרל"ז · Essay 2
- Unity Overcomes DualityMikeitz · תרל"ח · Essay 1
- The Boundary of DarknessMikeitz · תר"מ · Essay 2
- Light Overcoming DarknessMikeitz · תרמ"א · Essay 2
- Light and Spiritual SeparationMikeitz · תרמ"ד · Essay 2
- Light Overcoming DarknessMikeitz · תרנ"ט · Essay 1
- Light Overcoming Spiritual DarknessMikeitz · תרס"ב · Essay 2
Chanukah
Vayigash
Mishpatim
Shekalim
Terumah
Tetzaveh
Zachor
Parah
HaChodesh
Tzav
Pesach
Shmini
Tazria
Acharei Mot
Kedoshim
Emor
Behar
Bechukotai
Shavuot
- Torah as the revealed life-force of CreationShavuot · תרל"א · Essay 4
- Refining the world rather than becoming angelsShavuot · תרל"ו · Essay 5
- Torah renews and rectifies CreationShavuot · תרל"ז · Essay 4
- Matan Torah revealing the hidden light and nullifying the yetzer haraShavuot · תר"מ · Essay 3
- Torah's da'as makes the world bear fruitShavuot · תרמ"ב · Essay 6
- Transforming the Yetzer Hara through TorahShavuot · תרמ"ז - תרמ"ח - תרמ"ט · Essay 4
- Shavuos as the oath that binds us to HashemShavuot · תרמ"ז - תרמ"ח - תרמ"ט · Essay 11
- Renewal of Bnei Yisrael through Torah and tefillah at SinaiShavuot · תר"נ · Essay 2
- Shavuos and the yearly renewal of TorahShavuot · תרס"א · Essay 1
- Torah transforms the yetzer haraShavuot · תרס"ג · Essay 5