Who Made the Satan Regret His Choices? 9 Insights from the Mystical Teachings

Discover 9 particularly intriguing and uplifting quotes from the treatise "Essays of Strength" by the Kabbalist Rabbi Daniel Frisch, gathering Zohar teachings with the "Sweeter than Honey" commentary.

Hashem Awaits the Repentance of the Wicked

1. "Hashem is patient with the righteous, and even more so with the wicked, hoping they will repent or give birth to a righteous child. However, Hashem scrutinizes the righteous to test them for their benefit, to elevate them, showcase their virtues, or discipline their bodies to illuminate their souls. The Shechinah chastises the wicked to prompt their repentance."

The Soul Testifies Against the Body

2. "When a person sins and ignores their wrongdoing, their soul testifies before Hashem against the body, to prevent it from becoming mired in sin. Hashem commands the Shechinah to awaken repentance and rectification through suffering. Furthermore, one who rises at midnight to study Torah finds that the Torah, through its study, awakens them with mercy and blessings to repent and rectify."

Who Attains the Kingdom of Heaven?

3. "No greater honor exists than mastering one's desires, and one who withstands trials attains the divine kingdom. Although Hashem foresees everything, He created the evil inclination to test mankind, to demonstrate righteousness and increase his reward."

Who Casts Off the Negative Forces onto the Satan?

4. "One who withstands trials, accepting suffering with love, thereby subdues accusative forces, nullifies judgments in the world, and casts them upon the Satan. The Satan regrets challenging someone who has triumphed over him and achieved greatness through it."

How Can One Serve Hashem Through the Evil Inclination?

5. "Loving Hashem with all one's heart involves both the good and evil inclinations. By subduing the evil inclination and withstanding trials, one serves Hashem through it. The evil inclination was created for Hashem's glory, and in its efforts to tempt a person, it fulfills His will. When someone overcomes it, they honor Hashem and earn heavenly reward."

Hashem Aids Those Who Fight

6. "Those who strive and fight against the evil inclination, Hashem helps and delivers them. It is further explained that the evil inclination contends only with those attached to Hashem. Indeed, the trials and sufferings of the righteous benefit them and bring merit."

Why Do Some Righteous Die Prematurely?

7. "The premature departure of the righteous from the world is due to the mounting transgressions of the wicked in the generation, and so the righteous depart to mitigate judgment and atone for the generation."

Torah Scholars in the Last Generation – Trials of Great Hardship

8. "In the last generation, Israel will face numerous trials, particularly those engaged in Torah study will find themselves in great hardship. However, those who persevere in Torah study will achieve rectification. It is further elucidated that Torah students, and those who support them, are enlightened by Moses' soul to help them overcome material and intellectual poverty, and all will be spiritually rectified."

Trials in the Last Exile

9. "The final exile and its numerous trials serve to purify and refine the holy ones of Israel, so they will be found pure at the time of redemption. It is further explained that the test and refinement will be through the burdens of exile and tribulations, and only those who withstand these trials will be redeemed."