Eliminating Sexual Desire

הלכות קריאת שמע ד

(Artwork by Jackie Olenick)

ויבך על צואריו עוד וכו'
Our Sages explain that at the time when Yosef was crying on his father's neck, Yaakov was saying Shema.  The Rebbe explains the secret of this incident in the 36th lesson of Likutei Moharan.  In short, that when one recites Shema with tears he subdues all sexual desire completely.  Therefore, one who unfortunately has such thoughts regularly must cry during the time that he recites Shema.  This is why Yosef cried as Yaakov recited Krias Shema.  Being the paradigm of sexual purity and the ultimate symbol of shmiras habris via the sefirah of yesod, Yosef wanted to nullify the inherent sexual desire in man, which is the culmination of all evil.  

What We Will Soon Be Learning In Yeshiva

ליקוטי הלכות: הלכות הפקר ונכנסי הגר, הלכה ד:לב

In the future there will be completely holy yeshivot that will teach the study of holy emunah, which is an aspect of "I will yet again make make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed season" (Hoshea 12:10).  Rashi comments on this pasuk and says that the days of the appointed season refer to the days when Yaakov Avinu sat in the tent (his yeshiva).  And Yaakov's whole yeshiva that learned with his sons and students, just as our Rebbeim z"l have said, learned only about holy emunah.  This is because the mitzvot were not yet given, and the focus of their learning was on the point of holy emunah in order to nullify all of the idolatry and heretical teachings and to continue and to plant and to establish in everyone's heart a complete and holy emunah.