It is well-known that men are restricted with regard to that which they may see. The prohibition of "Ve’lo Taturu Ahareh Lebabchem Ve’ahareh Enechem" (Bamidbar 15:39) forbids looking upon somebody who is immodestly dressed, as such sights can lead to improper thoughts. The Gemara comments in Masechet Yoma (29), "Hirhureh Abera Kashin Me’abera" – "Thoughts of sin are worse than the sin itself." The reason, as the Rambam (Rabbi Moshe Maimonides, Spain-Egypt, 1135-1204) explains in his Moreh Nebuchim (vol. 3), is that the mind is more sacred than the body. When a person commits a forbidden act, he sins with his body, which is the lower part of his being. The mind, however, is far more sacred and exalted, and thus committing a sin with the mind is considered a graver misdeed than sinning with the body. The Rambam draws an analogy to a rebellion against a king. It is far more grievous when a distinguished minister rebels against the king than when a simple commoner rebels. Similarly, it is considered a far graver betrayal of God to use one’s mind to commit a sin than to use one’s body to sin.
The importance of avoiding sinful thoughts forms the background to a famous responsum written by Hacham Ovadia Yosef many years ago in his work Yehaveh Da’at (vol. 5, Siman 35), regarding the popular pilgrimage to Meron on Lag Ba’omer. There is a time-honored tradition to visit the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai at Meron (a mountain in Northern Israel near Safed) and celebrate the occasion of Lag Ba’omer. The festive nature of the event, however, led to immodest behavior at the site. People were coming to Meron for the Misva, but ended up exposing themselves to improper sights. Hacham Ovadia thus addressed the question of whether it is worthwhile to perform the Misva of visiting Meron at the expense of viewing immodesty at the site. He ruled that "Sheb Ve’al Ta’aseh Adif" – it is preferable not to go to Meron in order to avoid the risk of immodest sights; one should not perform a Misva if it entails the price of an Abera (sin).
Recently, however, Hacham Ovadia retracted this ruling, in light of significant improvements made at the site for the annual Lag Ba’omer pilgrimage. Separate areas have been designated for men and women, and the entire event is planned and run under the guidance and supervision of Rabbis, especially Rav Benayahu Shemueli. Baruch Hashem, our generation has seen an improvement in the area of Seni’ut (modesty), and it is therefore not only permissible, but commendable, to make the pilgrimage to the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai at Meron on Lag Ba’omer.
However, this discussion alerts us to the need to carefully think and calculate before undertaking a Misva. It is not correct to assume that any Misva we choose to take upon ourselves is perfectly legitimate and admirable. We must carefully consider whether the Misva might perhaps come at a spiritual expense which undermines its value. Before we take on a Misva, a calculation must be made to ensure that it is indeed worthwhile and proper.
