Splinters and Peas

In the days of Noach - before the flood - the world was corrupt with thievery, among other sins. Our Chachomim teach us that thievery was the sin which ultimately sealed the fate of that generation, for which they were punished with the flood.

In describing the thievery, the Medrash relates a typical scenario: A man would come to the market with a basket of peas to sell. The people would then conspire on how to rob him, yet in a cunning way, so that they could not be punished in court for their deeds, as follows:

Each person would take but one pea from the basket, and, before long, there were no peas left for the man to sell. Since a pea cost less than the amount of money which can be litigated in court, the man would be left with nothing, and no legal recourse with which to recoup his loss.

So deep was the corruption; to rob and plunder, yet stay within the limits of the law - the court system itself enabling the corruption.

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In contrast to this conduct, the Gemara relates a story:

Rav Zeira was once walking down the road with his students. As they passed a fenced-in vineyard, Rav Zeira asked one of his students to go to the fence and break off a splinter of wood, so that he can use it as a toothpick. Before the student had a chance to heed his master's call, Rav Zeira called him back and exclaimed: "Don't bring me anything, for if everyone will do as I intended to do, there will be no fence left!"

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Our Chachomim have created fences (boundaries) to prevent us from transgressing Hashem's will. And, knowing full and well the powerful allure of the outside world, our Chachomim have further taught us to create a boundaries with which to insulate ourselves, and create, in this world, a safe and pure environment within which to grow in our Avodah, shielded from the winds and whims of the outside world.

Instead of telling us to sin outright - no one would fall for that - the Yetzer Hara tells us to let our guard down, and make compromises with the boundaries. The Yetzer Hara tries to convince us that it is permissible to merely "take a splinter" from the fence. He then continues to chip away at the fence, fully aware of the the obvious consequences that follow once the fence is completely gone.

Furthermore, when others see us taking splinters from our fences, they may take the liberty to take splinters from their own, ultimately leaving them without fences as well, R"L.

In keeping our fences intact, we are able to live our lives according to the Torah, stay focused on our Avoda, and maintain the delicate environment needed to raise our children, in Kedusha and purity.

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