## Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II

###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 1
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/1)

א. כְּשֶׁבָּא לָאָדָם הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, וְהוּא מְבַטֵּל אוֹתָם בְּמַחֲשֶׁבֶת אֱמוּנָתוֹ, אֲזַי נַעֲשֲֶׂה מֵהִרְהוּרָיו בְּחִינַת טַל שֶׁל בְּרָכָה. גַּם עַל־יְדֵי זֶה הַמּחַ שֶׁלּוֹ נִתְקַיֵּם וְאֵין נִתְבַּלְבֵּל לְעוֹלָם, אֲפִלּוּ כְּשֶׁנִּתְיַגֵּעַ הַמּחַ עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁמְּשׁוֹטֵט בְּאֵיזֶה עִיּוּן עָמק, אֲזַי הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא מַזְמִין לוֹ מַחֲשָׁבוֹת הַנּוֹתְנִים נַיְחָא לְמחוֹ.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
When a person uses his faith to banish thoughts of idolatry, those thoughts are transformed into the aspect of “the dew of blessing.” This also results in his mind remaining firm and never becoming confused. Even when it is taxed by deep concentration on a complex subject, the Holy One provides him with thoughts that relieve his mind.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 2
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/2)

ב. מִי שֶׁנִּשְׁמָר מֵהִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, זוֹכֶה בְּכָל פַּעַם לְבִטָּחוֹן עַד שֶׁאֵינוֹ דּוֹאֵג מַה יּאכַל לְמָחָר, וְהוּא בְּמַדְרֵגַת "בָּרוּךְ ה' יוֹם יוֹם", וְעַל־יְדֵי זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא, לא הִבִּיט אָוֶן וְלא רָאָה עָמָל בּוֹ, וְכָל הַנּוֹגֵעַ בּוֹ כְּאִלּוּ נוֹגֵעַ בְּבַת־עֵינוֹ.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
A person who guards against idolatrous thoughts will always trust in God, never worrying about tomorrow. He is on the level of “Blessed is God who day after day bears our burden” (Psalms 68:20), and because of this, “[the Holy One] observed no iniquity and saw no misery in him” (Numbers 23:21). Whoever lays a hand on him, it is as if he were “harming the apple of God’s eye” (Zekhariah 2:12).


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 3
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/3)

ג. לְהִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה יַעֲלֶה עַל מַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ וִיקַבֵּל עַל עַצְמוֹ, שֶׁיַּעֲסֹק בִּגְמִילוּת־חֲסָדִים וְעַל־יְדֵי זֶה יִתְבַּטֵּל מֵהִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
To dispel idolatrous thoughts, a person should think about and obligate himself to perform acts of kindness.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 4
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/4)

ד. עַל־יְדֵי הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה נְשִׁימָתוֹ מִתְקַצֶּרֶת, וְאֵינוֹ נֶהֱנֶה מִבְּשֹוֹרוֹת טוֹבוֹת.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
Idolatrous thoughts shorten one’s breath, and he has no enjoyment from hearing good news.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 5
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/5)

ה. כְּשֶׁבָּאִין לְאָדָם הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, יֵדַע שֶׁדָּנִין אוֹתוֹ לְמַעְלָה.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
A person beset by idolatrous thoughts should know that he is being judged on high.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 6
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/6)

ו. לִמּוּד הַפּוֹסְקִים מְבַטְּלִים הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
Studying the Halakhic codifiers nullifies thoughts of idolatry.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 7
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/7)

ז. עַל־יְדֵי הַעֲמָדַת דַּיָּנִים שֶׁאֵינָם הֲגוּנִים בָּא הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
The appointment of unqualified judges gives rise to thoughts of idolatry.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 8
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/8)

ח. כְּשֶׁבָּאִין לְאָדָם הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, יֵדַע שֶׁיָּבוֹא לִידֵי אֵיזֶהוּ חוֹלַאַת אוֹ לִידֵי אֵיזֶהוּ עֲלִילָה מֵהַשָּׂר.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
When a person is beset by idolatrous thoughts, he can expect to either suffer illness or be falsely accused by a government official.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 9
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/9)

ט. עַל־יְדֵי הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה לְסוֹף נִצְרָךְ לִידֵי הִשְׁתַּמְּשׁוּת בַּשֵּׁמוֹת הַקְּדוֹשִׁים.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
On account of idolatrous thoughts a person will eventually need to make use of God’s Holy Names.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 10
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/10)

י. עַל־יְדֵי מַעֲשֵׂר נִתְבַּטְּלִים הִרְהוּרֵי זְנוּת.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
Tithing one’s wealth eliminates immoral thoughts.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 11
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/11)

יא. לִפְעָמִים עוֹלֶה בְּמַחֲשַׁבְתּוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם, וְחוֹשֵׁב בְּאֵיזֶהוּ חוֹלַאַת, וְזֶה סִבָּה מֵאֵת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּזְכּר אֶת עַצְמוֹ לְתַקֵּן הַמַּחֲשָׁבָה רָעָה, שֶׁהַחוֹלַאַת בָּאָה עַל־יָדוֹ.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
There are times when a person finds himself thinking about a particular disease. This comes from God, so that he should remind himself to rectify the evil thought that brings on this malady.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 12
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/12)

יב. הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְהִרְהוּרֵי זְנוּת וּשְׁפִיכוּת־דָּמִים וְלָשׁוֹן־הָרָע, הֵם בָּאִים עַל מִי שֶׁרָגִיל בִּנְדָרִים, אֲבָל נִתְבַּטְּלִים עַל־יְדֵי הַמַּנְהִיג שֶׁבָּעִיר, הַמְסַדֵּר הַגְּבִיּוֹת וְהַמִּסִּים עַל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד לְפִי עֶרְכּוֹ שֶׁיּוּכַל לִסְבּל.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
Thoughts of idolatry, immorality, killing and slander beset a person who is in the habit of taking vows. However, they are eliminated when the city’s comptroller sets the appropriate amount of taxes to be collected from each inhabitant of the city.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 13
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/13)

יג. כְּשֶׁאָדָם יוֹצֵא לַשּׁוּק וּמִתְיָרֵא, שֶׁלּא יָבוֹא לִידֵי הִרְהוּר עַל־יְדֵי רְאִיָּה, שֶׁיִּרְאֶה נָשִׁים יָפוֹת, יאמַר הַפָּסוּק: "הֵן אֶרְאֶלָם צָעֲקוּ" וְכוּ', וְעַל־יְדֵי זֶה יִנָּצֵל מֵרְאוֹת.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
A person who is afraid of immoral thoughts because of the beautiful women he sees while out in the street should recite the verse: “Behold, the mighty ones will cry outside” (Isaiah 32:7). This will save him from wandering eyes.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 14
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/14)

יד. מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, יֵדַע שֶׁיַּד אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם יִשְׁלט בּוֹ.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
A person with idolatrous thoughts should know that the hand of the gentiles will rule over him.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 15
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/15)

טו. בְּעִיר שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם יְרִידִים וְיוֹמָא דְּשׁוּקָא גְּדוֹלִים, שָׁם הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה בְּיוֹתֵר, וְהַסְּגֻלָּה לָזֶה שֶׁיַּעֲסֹק בְּיוֹמָא דְּשׁוּקָא בַּתּוֹרָה, וְלא יָבוֹאוּ לוֹ הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
Idolatrous thoughts abound in a city that has large markets and special shopping days. A *segulah* for avoiding such thoughts is to immerse oneself in Torah study on those days.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 16
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/16)

טז. כְּשֶׁמְּבַטֵּל הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, עַל־יְדֵי זֶה מוֹחֲלִין לוֹ כָּל עֲווֹנוֹתָיו.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
All a person’s sins are forgiven when he dispels thoughts of idolatry.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 17
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/17)

יז. הִסְתַּכְּלוּת לְמִזְרָח מְבַטֵּל הִרְהוּרֵי זְנוּת.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
Gazing to the east eliminates immoral thoughts.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 18
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/18)

יח. הַבְּכִיָה מְבַטֵּל הִרְהוּרֵי זְנוּת.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
Crying eliminates immoral thoughts.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 19
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/19)

יט. בִּטּוּל הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, עַל־יְדֵי הִתְלַהֲבוּת.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
Idolatrous thoughts can be nullified through religious fervor.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 20
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/20)

כ. עַל־יְדֵי גְּנֵבוּת דַּעַת בָּא לִידֵי הִרְהוּרֵי זְנוּת עִם גּוֹיָה.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
Deceiving people brings one to immoral thoughts for a non-Jewish woman.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 21
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/21)

כא. מִי שֶׁבָּא לוֹ הִרְהוּרֵי זְנוּת עִם בַּת אֵל נֵכָר, בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לוֹ אֵיזֶהוּ נְפִילָה אוֹ חוֹלַאַת יָבוֹא עַל אִשְׁתּוֹ וּבָנָיו.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
Whoever desires a non-Jewish woman clearly will suffer some downfall, or some illness will befall his wife and children.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 22
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/22)

כב. עַל־יְדֵי הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֹוֹנְאִים בָּאִים וְנִתְרוֹמְמִים עַל אָדָם.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
Thoughts of idolatry enable one’s enemies to overpower him.


###### Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 23
[Sefer HaMiddot, Improper Thoughts, Part II 23](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sefer%20HaMiddot/s/Improper%20Thoughts,_Part%20II/r/23)

כג. לְבַטֵּל הִרְהוּרֵי זְנוּת, יְצַיֵּר דְּמוּת אָבִיו. עֵצָה עַל הִרְהוּרִים, לִכְעס עַל אֵיזֶה דָּבָר, וְרֶמֶז: "רִגְזוּ וְאַל תֶּחֱטָאוּ".·. (שָׁמַעְתִּי מֵרַבֵּנוּ, זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה, בְּפֵרוּשׁ, שֶׁהַכַּוָּנָה לִרְגּז וְלִכְעס עַל עַצְמוֹ. וְזֶה מְרֻמָּז בְּדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ, זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה: לְעוֹלָם יַרְגִּיז אָדָם יֵצֶר טוֹב עַל יֵצֶר הָרַע שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר; "רִגְזוּ" וְכוּ', הַיְנוּ לִרְגּז וְלִכְעס עַל עַצְמוֹ, אֲבָל חָלִילָה לִכְעס מַמָּשׁ, כִּי עֲווֹן הַכַּעַס חָמוּר מְאד כַּיָּדוּעַ). גַּם סְגֻלָּה, לְנַתֵּק מִמְּקוֹמוֹ וְלֵילֵךְ לְמָקוֹם אַחֵר, גַּם טוֹב לִקְפּץ מִמְּקוֹמוֹ.

**The aleph bet book, translated by Moshe Mykoff. New York: Breslov Research Institute, 1986:**
In order to dispel immoral thoughts, a person should picture in his mind his father’s image. A practical solution for preventing improper thoughts is to become angry at something, as hinted by the verse, “Become angry and do not sin...” (Psalms 4:5). (Reb Noson adds: I specifically heard from the Rebbe that the intent here is to become angry with oneself. This is alluded to in the Rabbinical teaching: “A person should always incite his good inclination against his evil inclination, as is written, ‘Become angry and do not sin...’” In other words, he should become angry with himself, but not, God forbid, real anger, which everyone knows is a most serious sin.) Also a *segulah* [for dispelling immoral thoughts] is uprooting oneself and going elsewhere. It is also good to jump from one’s place.