Let My People Know

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz: “Sin is a parasite living off of the human.”

It is written that Esau had 400 men to do his bidding.

These represent 400 severe judgments (Dinim) or demonic forces that are released when evil is free to act destructively.

These forces of evil are essentially parasitic.

They are unable to do anything of themselves.

They live in a vacuum, in a distorted emptiness and are sustained by the nourishment they get from holiness.

And that is the problem–that evil feeds on the good, becoming ever more powerful through this sacred nourishment.

As it was said at the very beginning to Cain: “For sin lieth at the door. Unto thee shall be his desire and thou shalt rule over him” (Genesis 4:7).

Sin not only crouches there waiting, it also loves you and desires you.

Because man is its very source of life, sin is a parasite living off of the human.

–Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz