[Avodah] Constantly Surrounded by Harmful Elements

[Prof. Levine]

The following is from RSRH's commentary on Bereishis 48

16 [May] the angel who delivered me from all evil bless the lads, so 
that my name and the name of my fathers, Avraham and Yitzchak,
may be called in them, and like fish may they multiply in the midst 
of the earth.

Had we but eyes to see, say our Sages, we would realize how everywhere
we are constantly surrounded by Mazikim, harmful elements that
would harm us in the physical world; and what applies to physical life
applies, no doubt, to social life as well (see Berachos 6a). Woe unto us
were we to see all these. How fortunate that we do not see the dangers
that threaten our lives every minute in the physical world. How fortunate
that we cannot see the envy and evil intentions, the ruin and misfortune,
which harmlessly pass over us all the time in our social lives.
This is the Rah from which Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu save us every minute, 
and He saves
us in such a way that we are not even conscious of the danger.
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