ב"ה
Re'eh 5762 - August 2, 2002
The Free Will Problem in Judaism
The classical questions, the theological contradictions, the Kabbalistic foundations, the Chassidic interpretations... Insights, essays and stories on "Freedom of Choice"
The classical questions, the theological contradictions, the Kabbalistic foundations, the Chassidic interpretations... Insights, essays and stories on "Freedom of Choice"
Parshah
Re’eh in a Nutshell
About two mountains, from which blessings and curses are announced; a home for G‑d, and the difference between holiness and chosenness; meat, blood, false prophets, idolaters, kosher signs, tithes, pilgrimages, and the special Jewish idea of charity.
About two mountains, from which blessings and curses are announced; a home for G‑d, and the difference between holiness and chosenness; meat, blood, false prophets, idolaters, kosher signs, tithes, pilgrimages, and the special Jewish idea of charity.
Re’eh in a Nutshell
About two mountains, from which blessings and curses are announced; a home for G‑d, and the difference between holiness and chosenness; meat, blood, false prophets, idolaters, kosher signs, tithes, pilgrimages, and the special Jewish idea of charity.
About two mountains, from which blessings and curses are announced; a home for G‑d, and the difference between holiness and chosenness; meat, blood, false prophets, idolaters, kosher signs, tithes, pilgrimages, and the special Jewish idea of charity.
A Mother's Plea
I have come so far. I have not enjoyed the suffering, or the unrest, yet I have accepted that it will come to an end, a glorious end that will create a beautiful new beginning.
I have come so far. I have not enjoyed the suffering, or the unrest, yet I have accepted that it will come to an end, a glorious end that will create a beautiful new beginning.
Story
The Baal Shem Tov's Mysterious Journey to Leipzig
A tall thin man, wrapped in a black cloak, suddenly appeared at the open door. He looked silently around the room, walked to a corner and just stood there, staring at the Baal Shem Tov
A tall thin man, wrapped in a black cloak, suddenly appeared at the open door. He looked silently around the room, walked to a corner and just stood there, staring at the Baal Shem Tov
A World of Love
"It is not good," said G-d of the first and only human being, "for man to be alone." As long as man was alone, he could not really be good
"It is not good," said G-d of the first and only human being, "for man to be alone." As long as man was alone, he could not really be good
Freedom of choice has been granted to every man: if he desires to turn toward a good path and be righteous, the ability to do so is in his hands; and if he desires to turn toward an evil path and be wicked, the ability to do so is in his hands...
This is a fundamental principle and a pillar of the Torah and its commandments. For if G-d were to decree that a person be righteous or wicked; or if there were to exist something in the very essence of a person's nature which would compel him toward a specific path, a specific conviction, a specific character trait or a specific deed... how could G-d command us through the prophets 'do this' and 'do not do that'...? What place would the entire Torah have? And by what measure of justice would G-d punish the wicked and reward the righteous?
This is a fundamental principle and a pillar of the Torah and its commandments. For if G-d were to decree that a person be righteous or wicked; or if there were to exist something in the very essence of a person's nature which would compel him toward a specific path, a specific conviction, a specific character trait or a specific deed... how could G-d command us through the prophets 'do this' and 'do not do that'...? What place would the entire Torah have? And by what measure of justice would G-d punish the wicked and reward the righteous?
— Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentance 5:1-3
Print Magazine
It’s G-d’s world. Everything He gives is good, the sweetest good.
But it is often a good far too great for us to understand. We imagine it is not good, because that’s the only way to make sense of it with our small minds.
Yet the truth is, He gives us all the good we can handle. If we could take more, He would g...
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