Julian Ungar-Sargon

  • Home
  • Theological Essays
  • Healing Essays
  • Podcast
  • Poetry
  • Daf Ditty
  • Deep Dive Ditty
  • Videos
  • Publications
  • Military Service
  • Dominican University
  • Home
  • Theological Essays
  • Healing Essays
  • Podcast
  • Poetry
  • Daf Ditty
  • Deep Dive Ditty
  • Videos
  • Publications
  • Military Service
  • Dominican University
Julian Ungar-Sargon copy 3.jpg

Daf Ditty

A wide-ranging commentary on the daily page of Talmud.

Bava Batra 17: בְּעֶטְיוֹ, שֶׁל נָחָשׁ

jyungar July 12, 2024

For the source text click/tap here: Bava Batra 17

To download, click/tap here: PDF

The Gemara states that "over three people the Yetzer ha'Ra had no dominion" -- Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yakov, and some say even David ha'Melech.

If the Yetzer ha'Ra had no control over them, then how could they receive reward in Olam ha'Ba for the Mitzvos that they did in this world? Without the influence of the Yetzer ha'Ra, there is no option but to choose to do good, so they would have had no Bechirah, free choice. How, then, could they be rewarded for doing good?

TOSFOS explains that their Yetzer ha'Ra was not entirely curtailed. Rather, since Hash-m saw that they made great efforts to avoid sin, Hash-m helped them and did not let the Yetzer ha'Ra influence them.

We explore the suffering of these righteous figures which begs the very question of theodicy.

Tags51st
  • Daf Ditty
  • Older
  • Newer

Julian Ungar-Sargon

This is Julian Ungar-Sargon's personal website. It contains poems, essays, and podcasts for the spiritual seeker and interdisciplinary aficionado.​