Thirteen Principles on the Pervasive and Corrupted Flood

A. The existence of the evil inclination in a person is not a sin. Acting upon the inclination is a sin.

B. Sins are a lie and the foundation of death in the world, while the Torah is truth and the foundation of life.

C. We are commanded by Hashem to choose truth and life, as a nation and as individuals.

D. Pride is a negative trait. Pride in sin is doubly negative.

E. A private sin is serious. A public sin is a terrible desecration of Hashem’s name.

F. Every Jew has a divine quality that should be loved as oneself. Therefore, one should pray for the wicked to return in blessing "bring us back", and for those sick in spirit "heal us".

Rabbi Baruch Efrati, (Photo: Derech Emunah)

G. One who acts against the entirety of Israel has lost their connection to this quality, and for them, the blessing of the heretics was established. Therefore, distinguish between those who fall individually to the inclination without pride and those who lead it as a progressive ideology to uproot the nation and change its basic identity.

H. Everyone has a duty to rebuke in the face of falsehood and death, that is, to prove those who transgress.

I. The duty to rebuke is externally focused and depends on it being comprehensible and heard, not acting in reverse. However, the duty of protest always exists, mainly directed internally at the servants of Hashem,to reinforce our position and protest against this public impurity.

J. Abominations are the complete opposite of the foundation of the Torah. The Torah encourages procreation and future correction, while they increase desire for futility, without responsibility for the correction of the future. The Torah increases inner happiness from the joint creative relationship between man and woman who are different from each other, while they increase egoistic engagement around the cessation of the creation of life,focusing only on the immediate pleasure shared by man and beast.

K. As light increases, so do shadows. Just two days ago, a few kilometers from the parade of falsehood and impurity, 52 tractates of the Talmud were completed.

L. The truth will prevail and falsehood will disappear. Thus promised the Torah, "And Hashem your God will return your captivity". And thus it is evident to our eyes in our rising state.

M. Our mental attitude towards the proud should be one of peace of mind, from the confidence that they wither and the Torah flourishes.Simultaneously, we must sharpen within ourselves the stringent approach to this impurity. Not as a threat to us, but as a falsehood that still exists in the world which we must call to remove as a condition for the divine presence.