The Need for Lust (San 64a)

There's a facinating story that appears in today's talmud page (daf). Although it appears here, its parrellel in tractate Yoma is a fuller account. What follows is the Soncino traslation of the story. My notes will be in italics.

They (the Rabbis) ordered a fast of three days and three nights (in order to catch the "evil impulse" because he had led the people to sin and was the reason for the destruction of the first Temple), whereupon he (the evil impulse) was surrendered to them. He came forth from the Holy of Holies like a young fiery lion. Thereupon the Prophet (who was with them) said to Israel: This is the evil desire of idolatry...As they took hold of him a hair of his beard fell out, he raised his voice and it went [was audible] four hundred parasangs. Thereupon they said: How shall we act? Perhaps, God forbid, they might have mercy upon him from heaven! — The prophet said unto them: Cast him into a leaden pot, closing its opening with lead. Because lead absorbs the voice...And he cast her down into the midst of the measure, and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. They said: Since this is a time of Grace, let us pray for mercy for the Tempter to evil. They prayed for mercy, and he was handed over to them. He (the Prophet) said to them: Realize that if you kill him, the world goes down. They imprisoned him for three days, then looked in the whole land of Israel for a fresh egg and could not find it (nothing was procreating without the evil impuse). Thereupon they said: What shall we do now? Shall we kill him? The world would then go down. Shall we beg for half-mercy? They do not grant ‘halves’ in heaven.They put out his eyes and let him go. It helped inasmuch as he no more entices men to commit incest.

While I find this story troubling for one simple reason, it implies that procreation even between married couples is a sinful thing, I like this story for it's theological implications. The Bible teaches us that God created the whole world.  In addition it teaches that God governs that world. Thus to have forces outside of God's control would be akin to Gnostism. Isaiah said it best in his attack of Gnostic belief "I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil." (Is. 45:7).

What is facinating about this story is that the Rabbis give a reason for the presense of evil. Evil served a purpose. It created lust and lust led to procreation. Without this evil impulse the world would cease to be. We would cease to be. Whether one agrees with the rabbinic take on sex one can't help but appreciate that the Rabbis struggled with questions of evil and ultimately decided that even evil has a place in our world.

"I am God who makes peaces and creates evil." And you need them both!