Holiness Vanquishes Evil

There is only one thing capable of neutralizing the negative affects of “dirt,” and that is through a different type of dirt, the "dirt of holiness."

 

 "And Ephron the Hittite answered Avraham" (Bereishit 23:10).

 

Avraham (Abraham) purchased the Maarot Hamachpeleh, the double cave where Adam and Chava (Eve) were buried and which was to be the burial place for our Patriarchs and Matriarchs (except Rochel, who is buried on the road to Beit Lechem) from Ephron the Hittite.

 

Maarot Hamachpeila is one of the holiest places in Israel, and contains one of the highest potentials for spiritual growth. This is because it is the entrance to Gan Eden, where souls become united with their Creator. 

 

Ephron’s essence, however, was diametrically opposed to that holiness. His name has the same root as aphar, the Hebrew word for dirt. Ehpron’s spiritual essence was rooted in dirt, and on a spiritual level dirt causes a person to become depressed and lazy. These traits are referred to as “the bite of the snake,” since dirt is associated with the snake, as seen in the verses: “The snake; dust shall be his food…” (Yeshayahu 65:25) and… “dust shall you [the snake] eat all the days of your life" (Bereishit 3:14).

 

There is only one thing capable of neutralizing the negative affects of “dirt,” and that is through a different type of dirt, the "dirt of holiness."

 

What is "dirt of holiness?" Spiritual power derived from faith, as in the verse, “dwell in the land [dirt of the land of Israel], and feed [yourself] with faith” (Tehillim 37:3). 

 

"Holy dirt" can infuse us with true life and faith. Just as the physical earth feeds the plants, “holy dirt" such as the dirt of Israel, nourishes our spiritual development, if (and this is an important condition!) we honestly desire that spiritual growth.

 

Avraham purchased the Maarot Hamachpeila from Ephron to liberate the cave from the spiritual element of dirt – from Ephron – just like the Canaanites were in possession of Eretz Yisrael prior to the Jewish conquest of the land, so that the Jews could liberate Eretz Yisrael.  In the laws of spirituality, the peel so to speak, precedes the fruit.  In other words, before attaining a spiritual goal, the forces of evil that try to block our way must be encountered and destroyed (based on Likutey Halachot). 

 

As I write these words, Eretz Yisrael, especially the Holy City of Jerusalem, is fighting the forces of impurity. I pray that this is the final peel before the total liberation of Eretz Yisrael.