Page 26 - 20780

Chapter Two: | 31 26 | A New Light

on his own. Basically, he is like a puppet on strings that is being Rabbi Natan replied, “Do you think that Isaac didn’t have an
manipulated from heaven. What is it, then, that the person does evil inclination? If he didn’t, how did he have the merit to become
himself? He applies his will! Then he is led in the way that he wishes Isaac?” (Siach Sarfei Kodesh 1:403).
to go, and to that end he is given the ability to act. Rabbi Yehoshua Cohen
A War That Is Hopeless from the Outset Author of Kerem Yehoshua
However, even if he is unable to act, heaven considers it exactly
as though he did act. As the Gemara states, “If a person intended To review: a person is sent to this world to choose good and, 19 Menachem Av 5776
to perform a mitzvah but he was thwarted, Scripture considers it as as a result of his toil and effort, to attain complete delight. Every
though he did it” (Berachot 6b).
person on his own level, whatever that may be, must exert himself
Thus, what is principally wanted from you is your will. If there are and exercise his free will.
matters in serving Hashem that you cannot accomplish, you must However, a person who has fallen to the lowest depths of evil
first of all want to accomplish them. As a result, you will attain I have looked at part of the significant and unique book,
two things. First, your wanting will be considered like action, as the and is reading this book may, with a pained and broken heart, A New Light, authored by the gaon and tzaddik, Rabbi Shalom
ask, “How can I choose good? Do I really have free will? To the
Gemara states. And second, with your will, you will eventually be contrary, I am forced to choose evil! This book has explained, Arush, who is among those who have blessed the masses of our
able to accomplish everything that you want to, because you will be persuasively and logically, that I do not need to be upset and generation with great might. Rabbi Shalom Arush has turned
led in the way that you wish to go. That is the case even if you do broken by the existence of evil, because that evil is for my good, thousands and tens of thousands away from sin. I see that he has
not presently see how that is possible. When heaven wishes to guide done a wonderful job in teaching the children of Israel how to
you, it will have no problem doing so. Hashem is all-powerful, and so that I will strive and not have to resort to eating the ‘bread of subjugate their will to our Father in heaven and go on a straight
shame.’ But I don’t have the strength to overcome my powerful
He can lead you to attain everything that you truly want. path with the help of all of the books that he has written, which
evil urges and to choose good. The expectation that I do so is have been distributed across the world. Certainly, the present book
unrealistic. I have been put into a world of concealment, at the
The Main Thing Is the Will ultimate distance from Hashem, and I have been placed in a body as well will have a great impact upon whoever learns it and applies
that burns for the desires of this world. I am dragged after cravings its teachings. May he be blessed to fulfill the desire of Hashem and
Thus, in and of itself, a person’s actions are not up to him. and I cannot restrain myself. I have no control over my evil urges increase people’s holy awe of Hashem, and bring them to serve
Rather, the entirety of his free choice from beginning to end exists that exist in every area of my life. How can I choose good when my Hashem.
in the realm of his will. Although I have briefly cited sources to this body is pulled to every evil desire, day and night? On top of that,
effect, this concept requires a more explicit and extensive source. I am distressed and oppressed by the need to earn a living and by
Therefore, I will quote a marvelous passage from Rabbi Tzadok of all of the troubles in my life. ‘What may the son [placed in the way
Lublin (Divrei Sofrim 21), a Torah genius and brilliant scholar who of temptation] do to prevent himself from sinning?’ (Berachot 32a).
described this concept and summarized it with tremendous clarity So what free will do I possess?”
based on traditional sources. Since Rabbi Tzadok’s language is
somewhat difficult, I will divide this passage into short sections with This is particularly relevant in our generation, with all of its
an explanatory commentary after each one in order to make his technological devices and round-the-clock mass media that exploit
words accessible to all, because they contain essential principles and all of a person’s imperfections and weaknesses, that know how to
proof-texts for everything that has been discussed in this chapter: attract him and entice him and, day and night, plant evil desires
in his mind and heart, whether conscious or subconscious, so that
The principal merit of a person’s efforts in this he cannot flee, no matter how hard he tries to do so. The culture
world inheres solely in his intention to do the will of of this generation drags everyone down, pulling us down a slippery
[God], may He be blessed. As for the actualization slope from which it is impossible to climb back up.