Rabbi Yoel Pinto, son and successor of Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto, emphasized the central role of the soul in man’s internal struggle against the evil inclination. According to his words, even demonic sources acknowledge that if a person truly grasped the value of their soul, they would not succumb to temptation.
“When a person faces temptation, if they would only reflect on their soul – the soul that God constantly thinks about and communicates with – they would avoid sin,” said Rabbi Yoel Pinto.
He further explained that while people often feel ashamed to transgress in a synagogue due to its holiness, the Divine Presence dwells even more powerfully within the soul of a Jew. “If one would internalize that the Shechinah is within them, they would feel shame even when alone.”
The key, he noted, is recognizing that the soul itself is the place of Divine indwelling. “When a person realizes that what God gives them is sacred, meaningful, and tailored to them – their life changes. That moment of realization is transformative.”
Rabbi Yoel Pinto concluded that true spiritual ascent begins only when one fully believes in the value of their own soul.
This article was written in cooperation with Shuva Israel