(Courtesy of Artscroll) Highlighting: “Steps to the Throne: Inspiring Insights and Stories to Elevate Your Elul and Yomim Noraim,” by Rabbi Norron Muller.”

If a thief is found in a tunnel, and you strike him to death, there is no blood-guilt on his account. (Shemos 22:1)

In the above verse, the Torah gives a dispensation to a man who kills an intruder tunneling into his home. Because his own life is in danger, he may proactively kill him first, without fear of punishment. A self-defense clause, so to speak.

The Kotzker Rebbe saw a hidden message in the plain meaning of the verse, explaining that the intruder referenced here is the evil inclination.

Every Jew wants to do the right thing, to live his life guided by the Torah.

But he is hounded by a constant intruder.

The yetzer hara lurks in the tunnels of a person’s heart, wielding his sword and waiting to strike.

He is a wolf in lamb’s clothing, skilled in hiding himself and his real agenda. When he speaks, he makes himself sound righteous, insisting that his advice is steeped in holiness and virtue.

Too often, we never see him coming.

But he is always there.

Our obligation is to be on high alert.

Search the crevices of your soul and dig deep into the tunnels of your heart. Work to discern the voice of the evil inclination from the voice of his friendly counterpart, your yetzer tov.

Listen to them carefully. They often sound similar.

Think twice before acting on an urge. Make sure that it is coming from a place of purity, goodness, and decency.

Find your evil inclination, and kill him before he kills you!

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R’ Meir Yechiel of Ostrovtze offers a homiletic interpretation of the first half of the above-quoted verse, as follows.

The Gemara (Sanhedrin 103a) relates that although King Menasheh had fallen to the point that every normal avenue of teshuvah was firmly shut to him, he still managed to repent.

How?

HaKadosh Baruch Hu dug a special tunnel in Heaven in order to accept Menasheh’s repentance.

R’ Meir Yechiel explains the analogy of a tunnel in relation to teshuvah.

A tunnel is an alternative entrance, used only when the front door is locked. It is dark and narrow, and difficult to navigate. Its end can’t initially be seen and entering its confines is frightening.

A man goes in only when he has no other choice. Even then, he enters only when he is certain that the tunnel leads to where he needs to go, and feels confident that he will make it safely to the other side.

Menasheh had no choice. But he also understood that this tunnel was prepared by his Creator with His very own hands, so to speak. That knowledge gave the king the confidence to enter. He knew Who had dug it, and that it would lead him out safely.

When Hashem digs a tunnel for teshuvah, it comes with that guarantee. He will hold your hand throughout and ensure your safe passage.

He asks only one thing.

Im bamachteres—be in the tunnel! Inspire yourself to truly repent!

Take the leap of faith and go in.

Just go in!

If you do that, yimatzei, you have His promise that you will be found, you will be seen. Hashem will watch over you as you walk in the tunnel that He Himself dug.

You will make it safely to the other side, guaranteed!

An experienced burglar once entered a home through the chimney in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, he picked the wrong house. As he clambered inside, the thief found himself facing the town Rabbi, who was still sitting in front of his Gemara, despite the late hour.

“How can I help you? Do you have a question to ask me?” asked the bewildered Rabbi of his unexpected “guest.”

With a face full of soot hiding his shame, he shared with the Rav the only question he now had. “Rebbi!” he stammered. “I know how I got in here. But now, can you please tell me, how in the world do I get out?!”

The Days of Judgment approach, and our faces are filthy, covered in soot.

The “light at the end of the tunnel” is hidden from view.

Do not let it stop you. Enter the tunnel!

Hashem will meet you there, His light will shine forth, and you will find your way out.

Reprinted from “Steps to the Throne” by Rabbi Nosson Muller with permission from the copyright holder, ArtScroll Mesorah Publications.