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Rabbi Gurkow: Welcome to the Rabbi's one on one chat room, how can I help you today?
RJK: The kitzur shulchan aruch [Ed. note: Abridged Code of Jewish Law] says that masturbation is worse than all the other sins in the Torah and compares it to murder. Is this hyperbolic or is it literal?
Rabbi Gurkow: when you say hyperbolic do you mean that it just says it but does not really mean it? if that's what you mean then it is not hyperbolic
Rabbi Gurkow: but if you mean that one is not subject to corporal punishment equal or worse than other sins, then you are correct
Rabbi Gurkow: the shulchan aruch is talking about the spiritual damage that is caused by it, which is worse then that of any other sin
RJK: OK, by hyperbolic, I just meant exaggeration to show severity. OK-- so the spiritual damage caused by masturbation is worse than that caused by any other sin?!
RJK: This is difficult for me to understand
RJK: Worse than the spiritual damage caused by literally murdering someone, by hurting someone, by slandering someone?
Rabbi Gurkow: indeed
RJK: How so?
Rabbi Gurkow: you are thinking that the pain caused in ths world is the barometer of the spirtual damage--that is not so
Rabbi Gurkow: in the Tanya chapter seven, the Alter Rebbe explains that through masturbation one pours out the essence of one's soul with all the sanctity inherent in that and that it is given directly to the kelipah [powers of anti-divinity]
Rabbi Gurkow: there is no other sin that the kelipah can draw directly from the essence of holiness
Rabbi Gurkow: masturbation is the only one
Rabbi Gurkow: so obviously in terms of inflicting pain, creating chaos, causing upheaval etc. masturbation doesn't come close to being ranked the worse
Rabbi Gurkow: but in terms of spiritual damage, strengthening spiritual forces of negativity and unholiness, it is indeed the worst.
RJK: Thanks for your time
Rabbi Gurkow: you are totally welcome
[Ed. note: Also read "Where does the Torah say masturbation is a sin?"]
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