Taming the Ox

In Talmudic law, when an ox has shown repeated signs of aggression, its legal status changes: if it subsequently damages another person’s property or person, it receives no leniency. However, through specific changes – even very minor changes in behavior – its legal status as being “tame” can be restored.

Every person possesses an “inner ox” – an animal soul. A Jew’s animal soul is tame by nature – it does not pursue spiritually destructive behavior. But if the animal soul does lead him astray, the Jew can always regain his spiritual wholeness through the smallest sincere movement of return to G-d.

And concerning the one who has returned to G-d, Torah says: “Even the complete Tzaddik is unable to reach his exalted, holy level.”