Introduction: The Choshen and the Modern Struggle
The speaker, delivering a Torah lecture (shiur) ahead of Parshat Tetzaveh, focuses on the Choshen Mishpat—the High Priest’s breastplate, which contained twelve precious stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Specifically, he focuses on the second stone, the Piteda (פטדה), which corresponds to the tribe of Shimon.
The rabbi uses the concept of the Piteda stone as a profound metaphor for surviving the spiritual dangers of the modern era, specifically the "struggle of the networks"—the temptation, lewdness, and inappropriate content found on social media and the internet.
The Dual Nature of the Piteda Stone
To understand the stone's significance, the speaker brings several classical commentaries:
The Color and the Sin: According to Targum Onkelos and Rabbenu Bachya, the Piteda was a green stone. Rabbenu Bachya explains that this color was assigned to the tribe of Shimon to remind them of the sin of their leader, Zimri ben Salu, who publicly committed an act of gross immorality with a Midianite woman. The green color represents how the faces of the sinners "turned green" with shame and spiritual illness.
The Antidote to Lust: Rabbenu Bachya notes that this specific stone, found in the hot climate of Kush (Africa), has a unique mystical and physical property: it "cools the body" and suppresses physical lust. Thus, the stone was a spiritual remedy for the specific weakness of the tribe of Shimon.
The Positive Association: The Alshich offers a contrasting, positive reason for the stone. Shimon (along with Levi) famously defended the honor of their sister, Dina, destroying the city of Shechem after she was defiled. The Midrash Rabba supports this, noting that Shimon’s tribal flag was green and featured an image of the city of Shechem. Therefore, the Piteda does not merely represent a failure regarding immorality; it represents Shimon's zealous fight against immorality.
The Theological Dilemma: Why Remember a Sin?
The speaker then introduces a powerful question raised by the Toldot Yitzchak (Rabbi Yitzchak Caro): The High Priest wore the Choshen to seek divine guidance (via the Urim V'Tummim) and to invoke merit for the Jewish people. Why, then, would he wear a stone whose green color explicitly reminds God of Shimon's shameful sin?
The Toldot Yitzchak answers that remembering a past sin is only detrimental if the person is still attached to it. However, if a person has genuinely repented, distanced themselves from the sin, and proven they can resist the temptation, remembering the sin becomes a merit. It serves as proof of their spiritual triumph.
The Psychological Root of Sin: Sadness vs. Joy
Transitioning to the practical, the speaker explores the psychological mechanics of falling into sin, particularly on social media.
Why do people fall into the "abyss" of inappropriate content online? The speaker explains that the Evil Inclination (Yetzer Hara) uses sadness and depression as its primary weapon. When a person feels down, frustrated, or unsuccessful, the inclination offers them the "cheap comfort" of digital distractions and lewdness as a coping mechanism.
To combat this, the speaker cites Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (Orot HaTeshuvah), who explains that true repentance transforms intentional sins into merits. This realization should fill a person with immense joy. When a person is joyful and content with their spiritual journey, the "cheap thrills" of the internet lose their appeal.
The Ultimate Cure: Torah and a "Mouth of Thanks"
The speaker concludes by revealing the ultimate "cooling agents" for the burning temptations of the modern world, hidden within the symbolism of the Piteda:
Torah Study: Kabbalistically, the six edges of the Piteda stone correspond to the Sefirah of Tiferet, which represents the Torah. The ultimate way to cool the fires of physical lust is to immerse oneself in the intellectual and spiritual pursuit of Torah study (e.g., studying a daily page of Talmud).
Gratitude (Pi-Toda): The rabbi offers a beautiful homiletical play on words. The word Piteda (פטדה) can be split into two words: Pi Toda (פי תודה), meaning "A mouth of thanks."
Conclusion:
The speaker’s final message is that the way to survive the spiritual pitfalls of social media is not merely through white-knuckled avoidance, but through proactive positivity. A person must cultivate a Pi Toda—a mouth of gratitude. By constantly thanking God for one's life, successes, family, and spiritual opportunities, a person cultivates a state of joy. This joy, combined with the study of Torah, acts as the modern-day "Piteda stone," cooling the fires of negative temptations and protecting the soul.
