Sometimes the Evil One worships inside a man. The man becomes like a synagogue, with the Evil One worshipping inside him. The Evil One can also study inside a man. The man is then like a study hall, with someone studying inside him.
In such a case, study is better than prayer. When you bring the Evil One into the study hall, our Sages teach, “If he is a stone, he will be melted; if he is iron, he will be shattered” (ibid.).
“If this disgusting thing accosts you (PeGA bakh).” According to the Talmud, PeGa means to pray (Berakhot 26b). Bakh literally means “in you.” We can then read the quotation as, “If this disgusting thing worships within you, drag him to the house of study.” If you are like a synagogue with the Evil One worshipping inside you, drag him to the house of study because Totah study is the most effective antidote.
אִם פָּגַע בְּךָ מְנֻוָּל זֶה מָשְׁכֵהוּ לְבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ (קִדּוּשִׁין ל:).
Regarding the Evil Urge, the Talmud teaches, “If this disgusting one accosts you, drag him to the house of study” (Kiddushin 30b).
כִּי לִפְעָמִים הוּא (הַיְנוּ הַבַּעַל דָּבָר) מִתְפַּלֵּל מִתּוֹךְ הָאָדָם, וַאֲזַי הָאָדָם כְּמוֹ בֵּית־הַכְּנֶסֶת וְאֶחָד מִתְפַּלֵּל בְּתוֹכוֹ. וְכֵן בְּלִמּוּד, לִפְעָמִים הָאָדָם הוּא כְּמוֹ בֵּית־הַמִּדְרָשׁ וְאֶחָד לוֹמֵד בְּתוֹכוֹ.
Sometimes the Evil One worships inside a man. The man becomes like a synagogue, with the Evil One worshipping inside him. The Evil One can also study inside a man. The man is then like a study hall, with someone studying inside him.
אַךְ אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן לִמּוּד כָּזֶה טוֹב יוֹתֵר מִתְּפִלָּה כָּזוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ ז"ל (שָׁם): "אִם אֶבֶן הוּא נִמּוֹחַ אִם בַּרְזֶל הוּא מִתְפּוֹצֵץ".
In such a case, study is better than prayer. When you bring the Evil One into the study hall, our Sages teach, “If he is a stone, he will be melted; if he is iron, he will be shattered” (ibid.).
וְזֶהוּ 'אִם פָּגַע בְּךָ מְנֻוָּל זֶה', פְּגִיעָה לְשׁוֹן תְּפִלָּה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ ז"ל (בְּרָכוֹת כו:). הַינוּ כְּשֶׁהַמְּנֻוָּל מִתְפַּלֵּל מִתּוֹכְךָ וְאַתָּה רַק כְּמוֹ בֵּית־הַכְּנֶסֶת, מָשְׁכֵהוּ לְבֵית־הַמִּדְרָשׁ, כִּי טוֹב יוֹתֵר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נַעֲשֶׂה בְּחִינַת בֵּית־הַמִּדְרָשׁ, כִּי הַלִּמּוּד טוֹב יוֹתֵר כַּנַּ"ל.
“If this disgusting thing accosts you (PeGA bakh).” According to the Talmud, PeGa means to pray (Berakhot 26b). Bakh literally means “in you.” We can then read the quotation as, “If this disgusting thing worships within you, drag him to the house of study.” If you are like a synagogue with the Evil One worshipping inside you, drag him to the house of study because Totah study is the most effective antidote.