Many prohibitions in the Torah are nothing more than limitations and restrictions to keep a person away from sin. Things that are not forbidden in themselves were forbidden by the sages of Israel, as a precautionary measure designed to prevent a person from approaching that which is truly forbidden.
Some see this as an expression of weakness. And that it is impossible to trust a person's ability to control themselves, who must be surrounded by endless decrees, restrictions, and exclusions?! Is the way to deal with the temptations of the world by setting high fences, or by proper education, which will give a person the ability to distinguish between good and evil?
Sometimes it seems that the Torah exaggerates in its exclusions and limitations.
All the laws of 'muktze' on Shabbat are intended to distance the Jew from things that could cause desecration of Shabbat. The prohibition of 'yehud' and the laws of modesty are intended to prevent the Jew from dealing with the temptations of the flesh.
One can list a long list of 'exclusions' and 'reservations', all of which serve as precautionary measures to keep a person away from sin.
Isn't this an expression of distrust in humanity?
Don't believe in yourself.
Indeed, there is a weakness here, but it is not the weakness of the Torah, but the weakness of man.
Many will not resist temptation if it lurks on their doorstep. Entering into a head-on confrontation with the evil inclination can end badly, and no one is immune to falling.
The Sages gave us a great rule in life: "Do not trust yourself until the day you die." The Talmud states: "A person should never bring himself to trial, for David, King of Israel, brought himself to trial and failed.".
None of us are immune to stumbles and falls.
Yes, this is a weakness, a human weakness, and it is appropriate to recognize it and not to imagine that we are heroes and strong.
Therefore, the Torah instructs: Keep your distance. Do not get too close to situations where you will find yourself in a fierce battle against the temptations of the world, because you may not be able to withstand the test.
Maturity and responsibility
This basic rule applies to practically all areas of our lives.
Safety laws at work and on the road, sterilization in medicine, extreme precautions in the use of hazardous materials – all of these are designed to create maximum distance from the danger itself. And the greater the danger, the greater the precautions (such as the ban on smoking far from an ammunition depot).
What is true in preserving physical life is also true in spiritual life. It is not wise to provoke danger. It is appropriate to distance ourselves from it and maintain safety margins and precautionary fences, to ensure that we can all return home safely.
True, provoking danger seems much more challenging, but is our life meant to provide suspense stories and heroic plots? And is life a circus whose purpose is to perform tricks and walk a tightrope without a safety net underneath?
Every morning we pray: "Lead us not into temptation nor into disgrace," because temptation often ends in disgrace. And even if there are those who will stand the test, the fear that there will be those who will stumble and fail justifies restricting the entire public from approaching the danger zones.
The ability to set boundaries does not reflect weakness but maturity and responsibility.
The hero is not the gambler, but the one who knows how to stay away from danger and not provoke it.
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