Rabbi Zamir Cohen: Why Did God Create the Evil Inclination?
One of the most profound and persistent questions in theological philosophy is why a benevolent Creator would deliberately instill within human beings an inclination toward wrongdoing. Rabbi Zamir Cohen addresses this timeless dilemma, offering a fascinating perspective that reframes the very nature of human testing and spiritual growth. Rather than a malicious force, the Yetzer Hara is understood as an essential component of the human experience. In this lecture, the rabbi unpacks the deeper purpose behind moral challenges and free will. True merit and spiritual elevation, according to this worldview, cannot exist in a vacuum where good is the only possible default. The presence of temptation and the struggle to overcome it provide the mechanism through which individuals earn their achievements and shape their ultimate character.