“Eizehu gibor hakovesh es yitzro – Who is strong? He who conquers his personal inclination”
R’ Naftoli Ropshitz (1760-1827), the first Ropshitzer Rebbe, asks: Why does the mishnah refer to “his” inclination, rather than simply saying, “the yetzer hora”?
He explains that each person has his particular yetzer hora. Each person has a weakness for a different vice. Some may have an addiction, i.e. alcohol, smoking or drugs, which makes them vulnerable to sin. Therefore, that which tempts one individual to transgress may not have any impact on the other person. Hence, each person must make the effort to keep his weakness in check.
Moreover, explains the Ropshitzer, people often tend to note and correct others and their faults. The mishnah tells us “hakovesh es yitzro” – worry about your own yetzer hora and your own flaws.
