Don't Miss the Off Ramp

In this week's Parsha, we learn about the אשת יפת תואר. We all know Rav Taragin's classic schmooze based on the Rashi that this מתיר of being able to take an אשת יפת תואר shows how the Torah already takes into account something that might be too difficult for us to overcome and gives us a way to channel that energy and efforts towards Ratzon Hashem. But what happens when we have two מותר options in front of us? The Torah already takes into account actions that are not objectively good for us but knows we will fall short trying to refrain on our own so Hashem allows it to be מותר in the hopes that we can course correct. This works with the second half of that Rashi that the אשת יפת תואר will lead to the hated wife which will ultimately lead to the בן סורר ומורה.

Hashem is trying to give us an off ramp. In life there will be circumstances where you have something that is 100% מותר in front of you (taking an אשת יפת תואר as a wife) but in reality we are not meant to go down that road because if we do there will be a worse outcome for us (the בן סורר ומורה). It's not always easy to recognize which paths are meant to be traversed and which aren't within the realm of מותר actions. The challenge in life is to not only live by the Torah but to also live in a manner that fulfills ratzon Hashem. The גמרא talks about 4 individuals who never sinned (and there are many understanding of it). I would like to suggest a different approach (might be considered a hot take) where perhaps these 4 individuals didn't live up to their full potential, they didn't live up to the ratzon Hashem.

As we enter into אלול and start our teshuva process let us keep in mind not only the things we may have done which are אסור but even the מותר actions we took where we missed the off ramp. May we all be זוכה to find the right path to go down and to enjoy the pleasure of living a life of ratzon Hashem (דרכיה דרכי נועם). Have a good shabbos!