He [Joseph] went into the house to do his work". (Gen. 39:11) [This hints to a man going to the House of study] to study the Torah and observe its precepts, which are man's work in this world. Because a man's work in this world is the service of G‑d. A man should be as strong as a lion in everything that he does, so that the Other Side will not have power over him and seduce him. It is written: "And there was no man of the men of the household at home," namely no man to rise before the Evil Inclination and wage war against it [and to completely not sin].

When it sees no one standing against it, it is the way of the Evil Inclination to wage war with him immediately: "She caught him by his garment, saying, 'Lay with me'." "She caught him by his garment," because when the Evil Inclination obtains mastery over man, he spruces himself up and wears stylish clothes and curls his hair, as it is written: "She caught him by his garment, saying, 'Lay with me'" and cleave to me. [First the Evil inclination starts off in benign ways, and later it gets more intense]

The righteous stands against him and engages in war against him. (Gen. 39:12) It is written: "And he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and went outside." He should leave it, be strong against it, flee from it, and escape it so that it will have no power over him.

Rabbi Yitzhak said that the righteous in the future will see the Evil Inclination as a high mountain and wonder how we could have conquered such a high and huge mountain. The wicked will see the Evil Inclination as a thread that is as thin as a hair. They will marvel and ask: how could we not have overcome such a tiny thread of hair? These weep, and the others weep. G‑d will sweep the Evil Inclination from the world and slay him before their eyes, so he will not have dominion over the world anymore. The righteous will see it and rejoice, as it is written: "Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name: the upright shall dwell in your presence". (Psalms 140:14)

BeRahamim LeHayyim: Why did the Ari and Chida include this section? What do they want us to learn?

"I want to be in that number when the saints come marchin' in."

To me my Yetzer is so strong, ever present, omnipotent, rarely satiated.

It is not even crouching at the door. It is in the house, at the table, sitting in my seat.

Will the battle ever ease up?

Will I figure out a way to really hear the small still voice inside that is all about holiness and union?

Can I ever go into a Yom Kippur not regretting the exact same mistakes made the past year?

Frankly, I'm SCaReD, and not at all SaCReD.

G‑d, if you are Ro-i, My Shepherd Friend, would you please give mea little help.

"I get by with a little help from my friends."

Let me make even a little progress in a little area. Now. Thanks.

"I'm gonna try a little help from my Friend."

What does the above mean to you and why is it revealed to you now?

Bracketed annotations from Metok Midevash and Sulam commentaries
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