[Avodah] Yetzer HoRa Issues

[Cantor Wolberg]

10) Many children do seem to have a desire to do good. How can this 
be explained, if they do not yet have a Yetzer Tov?

11) Has anyone noticed (either in themselves or in someone else) that 
this desire to do good either appears or gets stronger at bar/bas 
mitzvah age?

12) Many cartoons feature scenes in which a character is trying to 
make a decision, and observes the argument between an angel on one 
shoulder, and a satan on the other, trying to influence that 
character to do right or to do wrong. If children do not yet have a 
yetzer tov, how can we explain the fact that children understand this 
metaphor and can relate to it?

Responses to:
10) It would be analogous to a cocoon or a flower seed.  The cocoon is a potential butterfly (or whatever insect) and the flower seed is a potential flower.  The child doesn't have a fully developed yetzer tov, but the potential and bud is there. 


11) Just as the desire to do good gets stronger at bar/bat mitzvah age, so too, does the desire to do bad also increases.  Hence, the battle is harder.

12) Your question may not apply to many children. I'm sure there are many children who do not understand this metaphor and cannot relate to it.  And those that do, merely reflects the differences in everyone and the rate of growth is not the same for everyone.  Just as some children at 12 or 13 are short for their age and others are tall. Also, as explained in my response to question 10), the assumption that children do not yet have the yetzer tov is erroneous.


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