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person who absorbs what he learns, and there is a person 2 But that is hard to fathom. Why is his intent considered equal to
who does not absorb anything. He is like a funnel. The his having performed the mitzvah? In fact, he didn’t do so. It would
learning goes in one ear and out the other. seem more logical to say that if he were thwarted so that he could
not perform the mitzvah, he will not be punished for his dereliction,
Yossi and Danny are only one example. For many years, I have because the Compassionate One does not obligate a person who is
given classes and I have accompanied many people returning to blocked by circumstances beyond his control. But why should he be
the Torah. I have seen thousands of Yossis and many Dannys. I rewarded, as though he had performed the mitzvah?
see many Jews who come regularly to my classes and become a
part of the “scenery,” who listen, enjoy, and are inspired. When The answer is that heaven only wants a person’s will. If, in
I follow up on people’s progress, I notice this phenomenon. It is addition, he acts on that will, that is excellent. If he has the will but
exceedingly pronounced. There are two types of people. There are he is unable to act on it, he has done his part. As for the act, which
those who change, progress, and rise in serving Hashem. As weeks is the Creator’s part, He decided for reasons of His own not to
and months pass, they are no longer the same. They continue to implement it. That is not the responsibility of the person, who did
rise ever higher. And then there are those who do not move a what he was obligated to do. Therefore, it is considered as though
millimeter, as though they did not hear anything. They remain he completed the deed.
exactly the same.
Thus, we see here explicitly stated that the essence of a person’s
I see this phenomenon in my classes, but it occurs as well when reward is accorded for his will. Even if he did not act, he receives
people read books and listen to recordings. One person reads reward as though he did act. And when he does act, the essence
a book or pamphlet, or he hears a recording, and his entire life of his reward is not for the act but for the intent, because that
is transformed for the better. He immediately begins to feel the constitutes the essence of the merit that he has gained.
Garden of Eden. Yet another person reads, hears, enjoys—and
then he continues on his way as though nothing happened. He is a A phrase in Nedarim (62a), “Do things for the sake of
funnel…. the One Who made them,” indicates that Hashem, may
He be blessed, performed them. (See there the Rosh and the
What Is Going on Here? Ran.) This means that Hashem, may He be blessed, is
the true Actor, whereas a person only possesses
Allow me to share with you the thoughts that passed through will. The power of a person’s free choice is the
my mind. Everything depends on the will. Therefore, I thought, fact he chooses and desires the deed. And so the
apparently Danny doesn’t want to change. But I immediately principal thing is that a person perform a mitzvah for its
rejected this idea. That isn’t so. Danny talks with me and asks me own sake: that his intent and thought should be for the
for advice. More than once, I heard him say how much he wants sake of heaven. If he performs an act without intent,
good character traits, how much he wants a peaceful home. On one what does he have? Nothing, because the deed came
occasion, when he was speaking bitterly about his angry outbursts, from Hashem, be He blessed, Who is the Actor.
he told me that all he wants is to be rescued from the trait of anger
and to attain serenity and composure. And many times he told me Commentary: Here Rabbi Tzadok adduces additional support for
that he wants to be happy, yet happiness eludes him. The most his assertion that in truth only Hashem acts. The Gemara states, “Do
noticeable sign that Danny does want to change is that he suffers so things for the sake of the One Who made them.” This statement