Metaphorically it is said that the “going out” in this parsha is referring to the battle with the yetzer hara. Surely there are many paths by which to engage in this battle, but perhaps one that coincides with the upcoming holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur would be to take a position that we are worth zero and are merely ashes and dust. The gematria of ephes (zero) is kama (first). In essence, first and foremost, it’s fundamental to realize that in the world of the Divine, we are insignificant and only God has the right to gaiva, which b’gematria is 15, the numerical value of yud and hey, the first two letters of God’s name. Knowing you’re a zero will help in not taking offense by others, which can clean all sins.

Steven Genack is the author of “Articles, Anecdotes & Insights,” Genack/Genechovsky Torah from Gefen Press.