• Pinchas removed the wrath of Hashem by killing Zimri who had illegal relations with the Midianite princess. Only those who guard their brit milah can hold the title of Tzadik.

• The name פנחס

• contains the names נח and י(ו)סף of whom both are mentioned with the title “Tzadik” because they preserved their brit milah. ( מחשוף הלבן -ב דף רלא)

• He will come back as a woman in the next Gilgul. A woman is in no way a lower human being than a man , However , women are not obligated in Torah Learning and many time bound mitzvot. Torah learning and mitzvah performance are the most enjoyable things one can experience in this world ( one can only know the true effect of the torah on themselves when they leave their sinful actions and approach the torah while being away from sin) , so coming back as a woman after having been a man in the previous life , brings suffering because they are deprived now from these obligations. (ספר קרנות צדיק בשם ספר זרע קודש).

• One who warms up his body in order to waste seed is comparable to an animal. Just like an animal is only designated to be slaughtered and has no share in the world to come, so too, the one who performs this act is not part of am yisrael and has no share in the world to come. ( קרנות צדיק פרק א-ב , מסכת כלה בשם רבי)

• בראשית = ברית אש

• Through wasting seed, one brings fire unto the righteous. One who wastes seed causes the righteous people in the generation to die (Keranot Saddik 1:19)

• Woe to someone who does not repent fully in this sin, for there is no greater sin before Gd like one who defiles their brit milah. If they do not repent , they won't leave Gehenom

• (זוהר הקדוש פרשת ויקהל ריד’)

• ·Wasting seed creates souls that seek vengeance against him in the next world.

• ·R Yochanan says he is liable to death, R Ami says it's as if he spilled someone's blood (killed), R Ashi says, it's considered as if one worships idols, R Acha bar yashya says , he has no portion in the world to come. (Midrash Hagadol, Vayeshev)

• ·The effect of old age jumps on him – weakness, poor eye vision (Shulchan Aruch, Harambam)

• ·One Gets Bad Breath and Bad Odor from their sweat (no matter how much they brush teeth or apply deodorant)

• ·One's Prayers are not accepted (Shelah Hakadosh ch 100., Likutey Moharan 2:1)

• ·One who spills seed receives 80 punishments. But if they repent, they will receive 80 rewards in its place ( Taharat Hakodesh of R' Aharon Ratha)

• ·This sin brings Am Yisrael into the hands of their enemies! h"v (Zohar Hakadosh)

• ·Poverty chases him eventually (Zohar Hakadosh Parashat Pinchas)

• ·Spilling seed is worse than murder because that seed creates evil children that go to the satan (R' Shimon Bar Yohai)

• ·One Gets Nightmares ( Likutey Moharan 2:5)

• ·It causes one's teeth, hair , and eyebrows to fall out ( sefer Mazor Uterufah - R Avraham of Berlin)

• ·One loses their Zivug (soul mate) (Likutey Moharan 2: chapter 7)

• ·Wasting Seed causes difficulties in learning torah as well as to forget their torah learning.

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• Some of the Rewards for Guarding One's Brit/Rectifying One's Brit

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• ·One who repents wholeheartedly will be forgiven with mercy & will be granted a higher level of holiness and fear of heaven. ( Kav Hayashar chapter 58)

• ·One who rectifies this sin will merit to have holy children who will not stumble in the same sin.

• ·Avraham Avinu comes down to Gehenom to pull out people who were careful with guarding their seed ( Masechet Eruvin 19A) P.S. it's never too late to fix your sins!!. So long as one is on this earth and has the ability to do so, they have the responsibility to do so!

• ·One who has repented for the sin of wasting seed will not be tested with the challenge of wealth (for they will not have the improper desire to amass wealth unnecessarily and acquire it through illegal methods) (Rebbe Nachman of Breslov 1:29)

• ·One who guards his brit milah, death leaves him, the Satan, The Yetser Hara , evil , all impurities, and the angel of death cannot come close to him. (Sefer Keranot Saddik)

• ·One will find their zivug (soul mate) and she will love him (Likutey Moharan 2: chapter 7)

• ·The Power of repentance can destroy all the demons that one created through this sin ( said over by HaGaon R' Yitzchok Breitowitz Shlita)

• ·He will find his zivug and she won't rebel against him. When one sins with wasting seed, the soul of his spouse can sense he is sinning and can cause her to get angry at him for almost anything seemingly for no reason. It's because her Neshama knows he is sinning. ( Likutey Moharan 2:87) This can be avoided!

• How to Rectify The sin

• First and foremost, one must stop the sin immediately. He has to commit never to waste seed again and start from there.

• He must sincerely regret his improper actions.

• One must watch his eyes. He must change his habits and refrain from looking at things that are not for him. He must set boundaries for himself to not get lured into this sin.

• A resolution to learn torah with greater concentration and to spend more time learning is greater than any fast.

• ·Invest in Torah Learning.

• ·Invest in your children's torah learning that they should have Gd Fearing Teachers

• ·Invest in the torah of people who teach about this sin, it will help correct your own sins. (Organizations who focus on helping people to stop this sin will be mentioned at the end.)

• ·One’s Obligation according the The Ari Hakadosh- According to the Arizal Hakadosh , one must fast 84 Times to atone for wasting seed just one time. Our Generation is physically weak and if one has wasted seed many times H”V, this is practically impossible. However, Instead, one can redeem an obligatory fast with the value of a meal by giving it to tzedakah ( הרמ”א ,חסד לאברהם, נודע ביהודה, ועוד) . In today's world it's possible to find a standard meal for $5-10. So to atone for wasting seed just once which requires 84 fasts, one would give to charity 84 X $5 = $420 to charity and this would atone for wasting seed one time. If one can afford this, they must do whatever they can to make it a regular donation whether weekly or monthly or every 6 months etc… whatever they can afford. Many Men have accustomed themselves to atone for their sins through this method monthly throughout the course of their entire lives and it rectifies a great amount of their sin.

• This form of atonement should especially be done during Shovavim.

• ·One who cannot afford this is still told to give 420 coins of any value (84 fasts X 5 sins connected to wasting seed = 420 coins) to atone for wasting seed once. One should have it in mind before giving to tzedakah that it should serve as atonement. (The Ben Ish Hai has a more lenient method of atonement which will be mentioned on pages 12 & 26)

• ·One who learns torah all day or is employed somewhere, and if they fast, they will lessen their quality of work or learning , they may not fast, rather they must learn harder , give charity according to their ability , and perform acts of kindness.

• This is to avoid the punishments in the next world as stated. However , one must pursue the task of destroying all the demons one has created through his wasted seed. The Ari Hakadosh Tells us that reciting the Shema can destroy them. We read Shema 4 times daily 1. Shachrit before Hashem Melech 2. Before the Amidah 3. By Arbit & 4. Before going to sleep. The more one can learn about Shema and have better concentration , the more one can destroy the mazikim. A righteous person can destroy up to 1,025 mazikim in just one reading. One must put great efforts in reciting shema. One should come on time to shul so they can recite the shema before Hashem Melech and must especially strenthen oneself to say the shema before sleeping which is generally found after the Arbit prayer in most siddurim. Rebbe Nachman says that one who can regularly read the קריאת שמע על המטה version according to the Nusach of the Ari Hakadosh , this would be a big atonement.

• ·R Eliezer papo says, even those who learn torah all day should partake in fasting atleast partially during the time of shovavim. And if its difficult for them to learn torah in depth, they should learn instead on those days they fast , Chumash , Zohar , Ein Yaakov , Tehillim , Mussar and the like and through this , partial fasting and learning together will stand for him as atonement. ( Pele Yoetz , Erech Taanit)

• one should be very careful to give sedakah on the day they fast. it plays a big role in their atonement

• ·The chafetz Chayim says that torah learning is the greatest mikveh tahara to purify and cleanse oneself of their sins. Instead of fasting, one should just eat enough to give them energy to learn torah and not indulge in food. They should cry out to hashem from the depths of their heart and strengthen their shabbat observance. If they can, they should fast once a week during shovavim & if they cannot,they should fast half the day Monday/Thursday and make sure to never fall to this sin again. ( Biur Halacha 571b).

• ·Teachers of young school children shouldn't fast because if it weakens their ability to teach, it's considered stealing from the childrens torah learning ( Birkei Yosef in the name of pri megadim – shovavim p155 and Shlah Hakadosh 305b)

• ·One who does choose to fast during shovavim should be careful to avoid anger of any sort so as not to undo their merit of fasting.( R' Rabinowitz Shlita)

• ·"Don't leave this world with this sin in your account. In the next world, money left over cannot help you. Money in this world can help you achieve atonement for the world to come" (R Yaron Reuven shlita)

• ·The rectification of this sin is more difficult and has less siyata dishmaya (divine help) at first. therefore, one must be vigilant and strong to fix it.

• One must learn torah more. (R' Chaim Kanievsky ZT"L)

• ·One who reads Tikun Haklali often (arranged chapters of Tehillim by R' Nachman of Breslov) can bring atonement for his sins ( see page 19)

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• ·Dipping in the mikveh purifies oneself, gives one a greater connection to holiness, and brings atonement for wasting seed. One should dip at least once a week if possible. The Sefer Taharat Hakodesh speaks of the seriousness of the mikveh. One , if possible should not speak to anyone unless to say hi out of respect. One should take care not to look at anyone else’s brit kodesh as it reverses the positive effect the mikveh is supposed to have. One may not touch their brit in order to clean it, otherwise they lose their reward for going in the mikveh. Try to minimize the time of being uncovered. The mikveh should be a place of modesty, seriousness , and holiness and it should serve greatly to atone. ( Taharat Hakodesh:Taharat Hamikveh:ch5)

• “ There is nothing greater in this world that brings holiness to the soul & body and removes one’s sins from one’s forehead , than dipping in a Mikveh before Shabbat.( ספר שער דרך החיים בשם חכם שאול דוויק הכהן זצוק”ל. Acc to Kabbala , Holy People can read others sins because they are displayed on one’s forehead. Great Rabbis used to look at a person’s forehead and were immediately able to instruct them on what sins they needed to fix.)

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• ·One should read vidduy (Ana) after the Amidah. Admit the particular sin, regret having performed the sin, and make a resolution with a plan to never fall in this sin again.

• .Being the first one in shul is atonement for wasting seed (יסוד ציון בשם חכם סלמן מוצפי זצוק”ל דף עב)

• ·One who cannot fast regularly during shovavim should fast at least once & redeem 84 fasts on that day ( with the value of 84 meals) . Shamayim will for sure be lenient on those who cannot fast so long as they commit to learn torah daily , learn Mussar , work towards redeeming the other fasts with money , and cry out to Hashem by asking for mercy. (‘מבשרת ציון חלק ב סימן כז)

• One should make sure to learn on Friday Night as much as possible. This is a big Tikkun for wasting seed , especially one who reads תיקון כרת. ( Kaf Hachayim 27:9 , Moed Lekol Chai 28:27) The 6th Night of the week is considered “Yesod” (foundation= Brit) according to kabbalah.

• The 26th of the month of Iyyar which is the 41st day of the omer, is called "יסוד שביסוד" and this night is a very special, holy , and auspicious night for a big atonement for the brit milah. Hacham Salman Mutzafi zt"l used to arrange learning and tefillot that entire night until Shacharit.

• ·Shovavim is the most auspicious time to rectify the sin of wasting seed. It takes place between the weeks of the Torah Readings of Parashat Shemot and Mishpatim. (tefillot to rectify the brit will be provided starting from page 13)

• ·Bring others back to hashem along with yourself! There cannot be a greater zechut than to change the destiny of other Jews and their descendants for the better. Your atonement will come through your outreach to others pleading with them to rid themselves of this horrendous cursed sin. The sefer "Duties of the Heart" Teaches us: " Even One who learned much torah and has attained the utmost levels of holiness, his level will never reach that of one who brings others back to Hashem" (Hovot Halevavot – Shaare Avodat Hashem 6)

• ·Melave Malka – the meal after shabbat is over, has a connection to this particular sin. One who observes this meal merits a special limb called "luz" which one receives after this world which protects one from Chibut Hakever -" The Beatings of the Grave" after death. Chibut Hakever is one of the consequences for wasting. One who has this meal, respects it and rejoices in it , will bring atonement to wasting seed and can avoid Chibut hakever.

• ·The Ben ish Hai writes ( Hayye Sarah 2nd yr halcha 3) That each Aliyah on shabbat is connected to the sefirot in kabbala חגת נהים. The 6th aliya is in connection to The Yesod (foundation= brit milah) if one can get this aliya, it will assist in atonement. ( interestingly , the student of the Ben Ish Hai , Hacham Salman Mutsafi ZT”L urged people to try and receive the 7th Aliyah of the torah. This Rectifies the sin as well.) Also the 3rd Aliyah we read every Monday/Thursday has a connection to this sin as well.

• ·The Shelah Hakadosh writes that after a meal of bread , one should leave over some bread in order to taste it before Birkat Hamazon. It should be the last taste in one's mouth before we pray. The Ben ish Chai write that this is a good practice and that it atones for wasting seed ( year 1 Parshat Behar , Halacha 17)

• ·If one usually learns one perek, one halacha , one Mishna etc..they should double their load! This will bring atonement. (in the name of Hacham Ovadia Yosef ZT"L and found in Midrash Tanchuma as well as Tana Deve Eliyahu Rabbah 13:5)

• ·Guarding one's brit brings one true happiness and contentment in their life. If we care about ourselves, we will put in great efforts here to enhance our lives and the lives of those around us.

• ·One Who goes to a pidyon haben and partakes in the meal , it's considered as if he fasted 84 times. According to what the Arizal Has told us , this would atone for wasting seed one time. This is a very easy rectification and one should make sure to go when these rare events occur.

• one should sweat for their Torah learning and mitzvot. As an example: one should dance with the torah on simhat torah until he sweats. These drops of sweat counteract the drops of wasted seed.

• Similarly it’s brought down by the Arizal Hakadosh that Tears counteract the drops of semen wasted. One should cry out from their heart to hashem for forgiveness by recognizing the damage one has caused through this sin. These tears should be sincere. one should not think that their rectification is complete with this alone, but this is a very important step to atonement.

• Rabbenu Yosef Haim writes that one who has stumbled by kissing or hugging women prohibited to them h"v should Hug the Sefer Torah when it comes out both on Shabbat as well as the weekday. Even one who has

• not stumbled in this sin should take care to do so, for maybe his past gilgul has stumbled in this sin

• (ספר לשון חכמים סימן עה' ח"א)

• One should learn and read one sefer of tehillim each day of Shovavim and this is a big segullah for rectifying the Brit Kodesh

• Maran HaChida reveals hints to this from the pesukim from parshat Shemot

which is the first week of shovavim "ואלה שמות בני ישראל הבאים"

The last letter of each word combines to spell "תהלים"

And from the same pasuk "בני ישראל הבאים מצרימה"

The last letter of each word combines to spell "מילה"

( יוסף בסדר סימן ג , קרנות צדיק פרק ג-טו')

Teaching us that tehillim during Shovavim rectifies the milah ('ספר פני דוד - שמות יב)The instruction is not just to read but to learn it. One should understand what they are reading. However , if reading tehilim will replace learning torah in depth , this would not be considered a tikkun for that individual.(Yesod Tzion)

• It is a Segullah for protection at night to avoid wasting seed/seminal emission to learn before one sleeps from Sefer Tana Deve Eliyahu (Yesod Tzion 6:3) This is a Great Segullah to have pure thoughts and good dreams and after he learns it he should say 72 Times: "אליהו הנביא" 

And it's good to have in mind the name אגלא Everytime it is said. (Keranot Tazdik 3:97)

When one sleeps , they should picture in their mind the holy name of Hashem - Havaya as if it is written right before you the way it looks in a Large Sefer Torah. (Tzipporen Shamir 8: 121) 

Like This 

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One who learns Torah in depth does not need fasting and difficulties to atone for their sins. (Sefer Haredim).

The main rectification of this sin is to learn Torah. (Reshit Hochma)

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The only way to return to Hashem out of love is through the learning of Torah (Sefer Nefesh Hachayim)

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A Talmid Hacham who has fell to this sin should increase in his Torah learning and work his mind to bring out novel Torah ideas (chiddushim) for the sake of heaven constantly, in order to fix what he has ruined, and he should write them down, and by doing so, he will give life to all those children that weren't born due to this sin. R' Eliyahu Haitmari in Sefer Shevet Mussar writes " The chiddushim one thinks of are called "Sons of the soul", and therefore it gives life to all those souls that one killed with their hands. But this is all true so long as one does so for the sake of heaven and with intent to fix what he has ruined.(Yesod Tzion 8:3)

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Learning 18 Chapters of Mishnayot daily is a rectification for wasting seed.(Moed Lekol Hai 28:25)

The Yesod is called “חי” which has the numerical value of 18

However one must make sure to learn them in the language he will understand the mishna because , in regards to learning mishnayot , many hachamim are of the opinion that if you don't understand what you're learning it doesn't help. “ How great it would be If one learns the Mishnayot after midnight , sitting by an oil lit candle . “ ( Sefer Maase Sedakah P 131A:A:52 , as well as Keranot Tazdik 3:52)

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Sleep with Tzitzit because it protects one from sin. Accustom yourself to look at the strings because it will help you achieve additional holiness and will save you from sin. Looking at the Sisit will specifically protect you from wasting seed as it says וראיתם אותו and through this ולא תתורו אחרי לבבכם ואחרי עיניכם you won't go after your heart(‘s desire) and your eyes. (Yesod Tzion 6:5)

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On the topic of Teshuvah from R Avraham Antebi ZT”L of Halab:

In regards to our sins, each sin we perform requires a myriad of rectifications. For example, one who oversteps his boundaries with the wife of another man h"v , must fast 325 days and similar scenarios...but our generation is weak & cannot even stand a single fast without becoming sick or weak. If one is lucky, they will find 1 out of every 1,000 Baalei Teshuvah that comes to do full repentance according to our requirements brought down in the Holy Books. However, Teshuvah does not need to be this painful for our generation , rather, it is accessible through our hearts and is within our reach without having to afflict oneself and take detrimental actions." So how do we accomplish this? " One must stop performing the sin and must make it clear to himself afterwards that he can never perform the sin again regardless of the circumstances. and there is no burden or pain in this (as opposed to the consequences mentioned by our hachamim for doing such an act). One must learn Torah because it takes away all pain and rips up any decree one has against him (from shamayim). When we do not have animal sacrifices to atone for our sins, Hashem tells us, he wants our words and that will be our atonement, that is , our words in the study of Torah and our words of prayer. One who is distant from the Torah , is by default, distant from Hashem. Even one who must endure suffering for his sins must learn Torah. Inspect and correct your deeds and your Torah will be in place of your suffering. Hashem brings suffering to the specific body parts that one has used to sin. But the Torah is connected to and represents all the body parts of man and therefore , it is it's rectification. If Torah is the rectification, then Bittul Torah (ignoring and not learning the Torah) is the opposite and will cause him harm to his body parts even if those body parts weren't used for sin. One who does Teshuvah (wholeheartedly) immediately after Transgressing a positive commandment in the Torah , is forgiven right away. However , going against a Negative commandment of the Torah requires suffering and Yom Kippur to reach full atonement. Learn Torah.

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Things That Cause One to Fall in this Sin

 

·One who makes fun of the Torah, its scholars, & it's laws, will easily fall to this sin.

·Sadness and Depression Leads to wasting Seed. If someone feels down, they must pick themselves up and not give in to the Satan. Hashem is on our side and wants us to grab on to the hope for better times and circumstances.

·Overindulging in sleep. This causes one to be lazy. Laziness is the biggest tool the Yetzer Hara puts to work on us. One must break this trend to be a servant of Hashem.

·Not respecting those who represent the Torah, both Dead (the books of past rabbis) and Alive.

·Above all, one who is Arrogant is Guaranteed to fail in this sin! Arrogant people waste seed, are promiscuous, and bring themselves to many sins ( R' Nachman, Sefer Hamidot-Erech Gaav'a.)

·Improper Music. A lot of who you are and what you do is based upon your thoughts. One who listens to non-kosher music containing filthy words and improper implications will be led to act like these people who have no concept of morality and holiness. This could easily lead to wasting seed. Everyone on their level can find a substitute to fill in this gap. The Jewish world of music is not lacking in any Genre one clings to. One should seek spiritual guidance regarding listening to music.

One must be very meticulous with washing their hands in the morning to rid themselves of the evil spirit that comes onto their hands after sleeping through the night.

One should read from the Zohar Daily During Shovavim. Just reading the holy words cleanses one’s sin. One should Particularly read Tikkun 48 on a day that they see an emission. One who can learn Kabbalah can bring great atonement to oneself in this sin. ( Sefer Keranot Saddik 3:53)

One who defiles their speech ( through gossip or unclean language), will ultimately come to defile their brit. The Gematria of פה (tongue) is the same numerical value of word מילה. (Keranot Saddik 2:5). One who doesn’t learn the laws of Lashon Hara can easily stumble in this sin. They must know what is considered Lashon Hara according to the Torah. The book “ Chafetz Chayim A Lesson Daily” is famed to cover all scenarios of Lashon Hara and should be learned.

Advice

·People will rationalize with themselves about continuing in this sin due to its addictive nature. One must pause and be honest with themselves. It may be hard at first and there will be bumps in the road. But one who wants to rid themselves of this sin will make it happen.

·One should learn torah with going into every detail of the topic and asking all their questions and looking for answers. Their mind will be focused on torah. This will guard one's thoughts ( Steipler Gaon ZT"L)

Protective Measure

One should take care to learn torah before they go to sleep at night. Any Text of mishnayot or Zohar , because the holiness of the torah that one learns when he goes to lie down surrounds him. Likewise one should think torah thoughts while in bed. One should think about what he learn’t that day and if he didn’t learn , he should think about pesukim of the torah that he knows and it will put him to sleep. (‘צפורן שמיר סימן ח) an easy pasuk to think about could be 

"תורה צוה לנו משה מורשה קהלת יעקב”

Sleeping Position

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One should start off the night sleeping on their left side and then flip over to the right side later at night. not only is this a protection for having a seminal emission , but it is also scientifically proven to be the healthiest position to sleep. One may not sleep on their back or stomach because it becomes very easy to have an emission in such positions.

7 Steps to Teshuvah

from Hacham Moshe Kalfon Hakohen ZT"L Av Bet Din of Djerba

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1. To purify your heart and conclude with yourself that you will not veer off of the straight road and that you will not go back to the evil road because of what will befall you: pain , grief, struggle , difficulties to resist sin. And through this, you will be prepared for war against that which comes after you to try and ruin you and take all that you have. You will be strong in heart , thought , and action.

The way of war is dependent upon 7 things

2. Accustom yourself to do the opposite of your sins and through this, it will be easy to go only on the straight and good road. ( Ex: in our case, one should learn about the prohibitions of looking at women and wasting seed h"v. If the test arises , one must overcome it.)

3. Find one person that you can relate to them of your misdeeds and bad habits and let him rebuke you to take you off the path of evil and to steer you onto the path of good. Through this, there is no doubt that you will change. Because the nature of a person who wishes to change is one of embarrassment, love , truth , and jealousy of that which is good. This will stir up your heart constantly to better your ways and if you fall again, it will devastate you, but you will have your friend to rebuke you once more and through that you will become much stronger. Over time you will fix everything.

4. To Swear that you will never do the sin again, you won't speak of it and you won't think about the sin. Through your swear you will be much more careful to keep your word. Through this you will break the strength of the Yezer Hara and your bad habits will be nullified and turn into good habits.

5. To think about your deeds , regret them , and cry over your transgressions to the point where the Yeser Hara will stop running after you.

6. Learn more Mussar because it is filled with words of rebuke and mentions the punishments for sins. Read Parables and upright advice that speaks to the heart from our sages. There is no doubt that this will wake you up and will comfort you from your sins performed through action , speech , and thought. This must be a regular practice. Study Mussar daily, it will push out all the negative and enable one to bring in the positive in their life.

7. To fulfill what David Hamelech has wrote in tehillim "I place God before me constantly". When we picture the holy presence of Hashem before us, we will not sin. Just like one cannot go against a decree of the king right in front of the King's face, How much more so it is with the King of the Universe. He is always in front of us.

חכם משה כלפון הכהן זצוק”ל

(ספר זכות משה דרוש ח’ - מעלת התשובה)

·If one feels an urge for a desire for this sin, one should say out loud the pasuk "Shema Yisrael" with concentration. If possible, one should learn torah immediately! Torah learning brings one peace of mind. If none of this helps, one should think about the punishments for such an act which should instill proper fear of heaven and sin.

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·Improper thoughts arise when one is not focused on torah learning (chafetz Chayim ZT"L)

 

·If one's body becomes heated from his desire, he should do something to cool off right away. This will help. Take a cold shower. Wash the location with a sponge with cold water but never touch the brit.

 

·The goal is to get oneself to think about something else. So even a light pinch on different parts of the body can help.

 

·Stay away from dogs and weapons and anything that can harm people naturally. Because one has committed this sin, there are instigators in shamayim looking for this person to be in a vulnerable spot, to relate his sins to incite him to be damaged. ( Likutey Moharan 1:50)

 

·Wasting food is like wasting seed. Try your best practically speaking. (Sefer Keranot Tzadik)

 

R' Yohanan in the gemara states: " There is a small body part of a man. If he starves it, it will be satiated. If he feeds it, it will be starving and never satisfied. (Masechet Sukkah 32B) (of course, this applies differently in regard to a married man who is obligated in providing conjugal relations to one's spouse.)

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·Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT"L was once asked " why is it so difficult to watch our eyes in this generation?. Everywhere we walk there is immodesty. Why is our test so difficult?" to which he replied: My generation did not have an opportunity such as yours. All a person needs to do is walk down the street to see something immodest. If this person holds himself back and looks the other way his reward is too great! And this reward can come to him once, twice, three times or even more just on one single street! What an opportunity!! ( said over by R' David Ozeiry Shlita). If one is tested with this , it must be viewed as an opportunity to elevate themselves as well as to atone for past failures. Joking and nonsense leads to promiscuity and sin.

Repent right away!

The longer you wait to fix your soul , the darker the days get and the thicker are the contamination of your sins upon your soul. (4 :‘טהרת הקודש פרק יד). Don’t delay teshuvah , the rectification will be much greater when done immediately. (Ch 14:6). One who sins and immediately regrets and is ashamed , cries , and repents may be forgiven on the spot! even if it was a more serious sin ( like this one). but one who lets his evil inclination delay his feelings of regret & fear can cause one to wait many days to be fully forgiven (Ch 14:15)

One who returns to Hashem is given an enormous bounce-back strength. The Baal Teshuvah can rise up to high levels very quickly in comparison to a Saddik whom which it would take a much longer time to acquire. (טהרת הקודש פרק יד:י)

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Even though we are required to fulfill the mitzvot and repent for our shortcomings daily , one who has not done so for even years! still has hope from the great mercy of Hashem. There are still sparks of those days of emptiness inside of you. Those wasted days still remain inside of your נפש part of your being. They can be cleaned up and those holy sparks can be ignited. Hashem leaves those wasted days inside of you waiting for you to repent and turn those wasted days of future punishment into merits! ( טהרת הקודש פרק יד :ג בשם האור החיים הקדוש)

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·A mind and heart empty of torah knowledge is highly likely to fall to this immoral sin (derived from the RAMBAM)

 

. One should always have a torah thought on their mind and not sit down idly.

 

·One who needs to relax for their wellbeing is not included in this but they must guard themselves through their recreation. "Of course, it's okay to relax. But relaxing means "changing gears." Your relaxation should be purposeful and directed. Think of something else that's not as exerting but is still meaningful. For example, shift your focus to nature, music or art. Sometimes, even a simple change of scenery, a cold drink, or a breath of fresh air is enough to recharge your batteries, but don't space out." (R' Noah Weinberg ZT"L). Leisure time must be directed by your Yetzer Hatov. If there's no direction for your recreation, that free time will lead to sinful thoughts.

 

·One should pray to Hashem not to become confused at the moment of a test. The Yeser Hara will give you 150 reasons why it should be permitted to sin. One must pray for the divine assistance to overcome their tests. Pray for the help! ( R" Gamliel Rabinowitz) ·

 

VERY IMPORTANT AND SUCCESSFUL TACTIC

One should get a journal. One should track their success when it comes. They should write down how they felt at that moment of overcoming such a challenge with details of place and time and situation. This will be a lifelong reminder for a person when the Yetzer Hara comes back to him later to start trouble again. You will be challenged but you will have a book of records. Records of success! And a history of how you've felt after saying NO to giving in to your base desires. It'll remind you of how much happier and stronger you were when the challenge came up last time and was overcome! Especially when compared to the feelings of guilt and regret from having failed, this process will work its way into your mind and bring you strength (Rav Yaron Reuven Shlita)

Much of this compilation is adapted from the shiurim of R' Yaron Reuven Shlita, Sefer Reshit Hochma , Sefer Taharat Hakodesh , Sefer Keranot Saddik , Sefer Yesod Sion , Sefer Tiv Hateshuvah , As well as the sefer Tiv Haeinayim of R' Gamliel Rabinowitz Shlita in English.

If a person is still stuck in their sins , fasting won’t help him. He must become a בן תורה before anything else. Hacham Ben Sion Mutsafi Shlita said in the name of Hacham Ben sion Abba Shaul ZT”L: “ One who is returning to Hashem should learn torah for 5 years and observe the Mitzvot and then if they wish , they may take upon themselves fasting. (‘יסוד ציון מעשה רב יא)

Hashem will test someone so that he may pass and reach full atonement in this world. Sometimes harder , sometimes easier, but all in order to avoid entering the next world with blemishes and disgust. (טהרת הקודש פרק יד:כ)

The Chida on Teshuvah

Rav Bina says, " The main confession of a person sins is that he admits he sinned. Without bringing any refutations, and logic and justifications as to why he sinned." This is the difference between Shaul Hamelech and David Hamelech when it mentions sin about them. When Shemuel Hanavi related to Shaul his sins, Shaul admitted his sin. But he tried to refute and justify himself by saying he acted as such from his fear of the nation. From here we see that when he admitted , it wasn't wholehearted. Conversely, When Natan Hanavi related to David his sin, He admitted his faults and took full responsibility. He didn't give an excuse or justification , rather, he owned up to it entirely. As a result, Natan replies to david: The Lord has remitted your sin (ספר מדבר קדמות של החיד"א)

Hashem does not desire our excuses. Hashem gives us the tools to be successful in our observance of the Torah and if we fall short, is it due to our own shortcomings. What Hashem wants is for us to admit our sin and recognize the wrong we have done and to strive to become better and overcome it the next time around. Don't justify yourself , just move forward , pray for your success , and rise ever higher from your downfalls.

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