Foolishness

The incident of the “Sotah,” the woman suspected of being unfaithful to her husband, is quite fascinating. It is the only Mitzva in the Torah that is decided by a miracle.

The promiscuous woman is given a concoction to drink that contains special water, mixed with dust from the Temple floor, and the ink from the erased name of Hashem. The miracle is that if she was truly guilty, the Sotah waters will cause her to die. If she is innocent, she will be blessed with a beautiful son.

Despite the mysterious aspect of this case, we are taught a very practical lesson. The word Sotah is spelled סוטה. Yet, when the Torah introduces the case, it begins with the words, איש כי תשטה אשתו, “When a man’s wife shall go astray.”

The Rabbis point out that “תשטה,” is a hint to the word, “שטות” that we translate as foolishness. This is the source for the well known teaching, אין אדם חוטא אלא נכנס בו רוח שטות, “An individual does not sin, unless a spirit of folly, has entered him.”

The message here is that so much pain has been caused by this “spirit of folly.” If people would only think before they acted, they could save themselves so much grief. Sometimes that one moment of doing a regrettable act, can have consequences that could last a lifetime.

This is why our sages say in Pirkei Avot, איזהו חכם? הרואה את הנולד. “Who is wise? It is the one who is able to see the consequences of his actions.”

The Sotah is put to great shame and humiliation for her moment of foolishness. We can all save ourselves grief and pain, if we would only think before we act.