Free Will

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1. Learning How to Daven From Nineveh

   Chazal's Preambles to Megillat Esther: Part 8

   Rabbi Moshe Taragin | 17 minutes

   This shiur highlights the significance of Tefilla in the Megilla. The strength of prayer, exemplified by the gathering and fasting of the Jews, is such that prayer can affect Divine will—and therefore choices are crucial. The megilla helps repair the lack of focus on Tefilla in pre-exilic times, and paves the way for a greater centrality of Tefilla in Jewish life.

2. This Nation Will Rise Up [audio]

   Rabbi Yair Kahn | 13 minutes

   Near the end of Moshe's life, God tells Moshe that coming generations will stray after deities of other nations. What is the source of Moshe's inner strength after his preventative attempts have apparently failed? Moshe has religious humility—and recognizes our inability to fully comprehend the Divine plan. Cognizant of the power of free will, still in his role as teacher, he warns the people as another preventative measure.

3. On the Resurrection of the Dead - Part 3

   Rabbi Yaakov Medan

   The Rambam posits that the ultimate punishment for the wicked is ceasing to exist like an animal. The Ramban disagrees and believes that the ultimate punishment is eternal suffering. The Rambam posits that the ultimate reward is a non-corporeal existence in the World to Come. The Ramban disagrees and believes that the ultimate reward is the resurrection of the dead and living a corporeal existence in the World to Come. The various stages of judgement of the soul and the judgement’s relationship to the World to Come and the resurrection of the dead are evaluated in great detail.

4. Clay Pottery and Broken Bottles: Free Will and Destiny

   Rabbi David Sabato

5. There is Freedom of Choice

   Dr. Yishai Rosenberg

6. Ramban on Parshat Nitzavim - Transcending Free Will

   Rabbi Ezra Bick |

   In this shiur, we examine a famous, yet perplexing comment by Ramban on the description of the teshuva process detailed in Parashat Nitzavim. After the people repent and return to God, and God returns them to the Land of Israel, God will “circumcise the heart” of the people so that they will each follow God with full heart and soul. What does this phrase mean, and why does this stage appear AFTER the teshuva process? To answer this question, more questions arise as we explore concepts of desire, free will, moral vs. metaphysical perfection, and the true meaning of complete teshuva.

   Ramban posits that in the messianic era, it will be human nature to do good, without having to fight a simultaneous conflicting desire. But will there be any desire? What would it mean to be human without free will? Free will is a morally ideal state, but does it come at the expense of a metaphysically ideal state? Ramban’s vision of the future involves a state resulting from true teshuva: not only resolving to DO good, but to BECOME good. Once one becomes good, it is not as possible to choose to do evil, or to desire to do evil. The diminishing of conflicting desires comes from becoming good, and becoming close to God in a world with a greater manifestation of God’s presence. 

7. Does Teshuva Diminish Free Will?

   HaTanakh.com Staff

8. The Image of the Snake - Between Gan Eden, the Exodus and the Entering of Eretz Yisrael

   Rabbi Dov Berkovits

   תאריך פרסום: תשע"ה | |

   The image of the snake addresses fundamental issues of free will, good and evil, life and death. We will explore the richness of the text in the Gan Eden story and in the appearances of the snake in the formative events that shaped the spirit of Bnei Yisrael to deepen our understanding of the Torah's approach to the challenge of being human.

9. Seforno on the Meat Craving and Free Will

   Rabbi David Silverberg

10. Nitzavim Vayelech - Challenge and Opportunities of Free Choice and Teshuva

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 22 minutes

    Parashat Nitzavim Vayelech presents us with two paths - that of "life and good" and that of "death and bad." Free choice is powerful, and it allows for the teshuva process (also detailed in this parasha). But some find the challenge of moving forward to be overwhelming. We must remember the power of freedom of choice and do our best to rise to the challenge.

11. Nitzavim: Heaven and Earth as Witnesses

    Rabbi David Silverberg

12. Ramban on Vaera: The Hardening of Pharoah's Heart

    Rabbi Ezra Bick | 27 minutes

    In Parashat Vaera, God informs Moshe that it is not going to be an easy process before Pharaoh lets Bnei Yisrael out. But then God adds “And I will harden his heart.” Why? Is God taking away Pharaoh’s free will? One opinion is that God is closing the doors to teshuva as a punishment for the evil Pharaoh did to Bnei Yisrael. Ramban explains that God is hardening Pharaoh’s heart to allow him to withstand the plagues – which serve as important political and theological signs from God. God is not taking away his free will. On the contrary, acting properly out of fear or pain is not enough. God hardens Pharaoh’s heart to allow Pharaoh to make his own choices – perhaps paving the way for him to truly repent if he so desires.

13. Chukat: Was Hitting the Rock So Horrible?

    Rabbi David Fohrman |

    In this week's parsha, we are introduced to the strange episode of Moses hitting the rock. Because of this small infraction, we are told, Moses will not be entering the land with the people of Israel. Why? What was the small act of Moses talking to the rock meant to teach the people of Israel?

     

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