Like Yaakov's Seven Bows Before Eisav

I've mentioned that I have a bunch of posts in storage. The previous post was the one that for some reason wouldn't register right last night. I started this one a couple of weeks ago, along with the piece I posted about Rav Henoch Leibowitz.

Back in my college days I read a Jewish Observor piece when it was hot off the press. it was dedicated to the memory of Rav Hutner and included many tributes. One thing in there struck me and I've been thinking about it and and quoting it for years.

Rav Hutner received a letter from a student who complained about being in a slump. And Rav Hutner wrote back (Letter #128) Some of the letter is discussed and cited (here) in a piece by Rabbi Shlomo Price.

"…A failing many of us suffer from is, that when we consider the aspects of perfection of our sages, we focus on the ultimate level of their attainments….while omitting mention of the inner struggles that had previously raged within them. A listener would get the impression that these individuals came out of the hand of their Creator in full-blown form.

Everyone is awed at the purity of speech of the Chofetz Chaim, z.t.l., considering it a miraculous phenomenon. But who knows of the battles, struggles and obstacles, the slumps and regressions that the Chofetz Chaim encountered in his war with the yetzer hara -evil inclination? There are many such examples, to which a discerning individual such as yourself can certainly apply the rule.

The result of this failing is that when an ambitious young man of spirit and enthusiasm meets obstacles, falls and slumps, he imagines himself as unworthy of being 'planted in the house of Hashem.' According to this young man's fancy, flourishing in the house of Hashem means to repose with calm spirit on 'lush meadows' beside 'tranquil waters' (Tehillim - Psalms, 23) delighting in the yetzer hatov [good inclination], in the manner of the righteous delighting in the reflection of the Shechina [Divine Presence], with crowns on their heads, gathered in Gan Eden. And at the same time, untroubled by the agitation of the yetzer hora….

Know, however, my dear friend, that your soul is rooted not in the TRANQUILITY of the yetzer tov, but rather in the BATTLE of the yetzer tov. And your precious warm-hearted letter 'testifies as one hundred witnesses' that you are a worthy warrior in the battalion of the yetzer tov. The English expression, 'Lose a battle and win a war' applies. Certainly you have stumbled, and will tumble again (a self-fulfilling prophecy is not intended) and in many battles you will fall lame. I promise you, though, that after those losing campaigns you will emerge from the war with the laurels of victory upon your head….Lose battles but win wars."

I beg of you, do not portray for yourself great men as being as one with their yetzer tov. Picture rather their greatness in terms of an awesome war with every base and low inclination.
When you feel the turmoil of the yetzer within yourself, know that with that feeling you resemble great people far more than with the feeling of deep peace, which you desire."

In the same letter Rav Hutner quotes Mishlei - Proverbs 24:16: "Ki Sheva Yipol Tzaddik Vekam- A Righteous person falls many times and he gets up." He explains that it his is not merely a statement that a Tzadik has the tenacity to rise up so many times repeatedly. Rather, it is telling us that by definition, a Tzadik is one who goes through the process of rising and falling over and over again. That's how a tzadik is made.

May we be blessed to become righteous and pure through our falling and rising.