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A person might ask: “Are you saying that we do not have to Of course, the Jews responded to this proclamation of the leaders person who absorbs what he learns, and there is a person 2
act, and that it suffices to want?” Heaven forbid! If you are able of the generation. Everywhere they organized rides and hung up who does not absorb anything. He is like a funnel. The
to fulfill Hashem’s will, certainly you must both want and fulfill; if signs calling on everyone to participate in the gathering. Whoever learning goes in one ear and out the other.
you are able to strive and do, certainly you must want, pray, strive heeded the ruling of the leaders of the generation signed up for the
and do. But regarding matters that you are unable to fulfill, you are bus rides without hesitation. People set aside their learning, their Yossi and Danny are only one example. For many years, I have
obligated to want, and want more, and continue to want and pray. activities and business, took off from work, and came to participate given classes and I have accompanied many people returning to
As we learned, your exercise of will is considered equal to deed. If in the public prayers. Many brought along family members as well. the Torah. I have seen thousands of Yossis and many Dannys. I
you hold fast to your will, you will be directed by heaven, which see many Jews who come regularly to my classes and become a
will give you the ability to attain that deed in actuality. But not everyone went. For instance, when Reuven was part of the “scenery,” who listen, enjoy, and are inspired. When
getting himself ready, his father told him, “You are not going to I follow up on people’s progress, I notice this phenomenon. It is
The Will Is Always Free any gathering. You will not leave this house.” All of Reuven’s exceedingly pronounced. There are two types of people. There are
explanations were of no avail. His father told him resolutely, “If those who change, progress, and rise in serving Hashem. As weeks
you go, you are not my son.” As for Shimon, as soon as his wife
We have learned that whereas the deed is not in a person’s and months pass, they are no longer the same. They continue to
hands, his exercise of his will is always free, and it is always in heard that he was planning to participate in the gathering, she burst rise ever higher. And then there are those who do not move a
his hands. Therefore, even if you cannot overcome your cravings out yelling at him. When she calmed down, he tried to explain millimeter, as though they did not hear anything. They remain
to her pleasantly that he was obligated to heed the sages, but she
and addictions, you can always intend to overcome them. Even if responded by threatening that if he dared go to the gathering, she exactly the same.
you cannot speak with Hashem, you can always intend to speak
with Him; even if you cannot be joyful, you can always intend would divorce him. Levi was locked in his room and could not get I see this phenomenon in my classes, but it occurs as well when
out. Yehudah had no money. Ephraim’s car needed repairs and his
to be joyful; and even if you cannot always intend properly, you people read books and listen to recordings. One person reads
can intend to. Your intent is the principal factor. This intent is neighbors did not have room for him in their cars. And Menashe a book or pamphlet, or he hears a recording, and his entire life
returned from work so exhausted that he fell asleep and missed his
considered equal to deed, and you will receive reward for it equal ride. is transformed for the better. He immediately begins to feel the
to the reward for the actual deed. Your intent is what heaven wants Garden of Eden. Yet another person reads, hears, enjoys—and
from you—because that constitutes the entirety of your ability to then he continues on his way as though nothing happened. He is a
choose freely. A Reckoning funnel….

He Who bestows knowledge upon man gave me the merit to When these people who were unable to attend come to heaven What Is Going on Here?
formulate this concept that the essence of free choice lies in the and are asked: “Why didn’t you heed the leaders of the generation
exercise of will, since the exercise of will is always free and a person and participate in the gathering?” each one will describe his Allow me to share with you the thoughts that passed through
always has the ability to change it immediately. Afterwards, I circumstances. The heavenly court will accede to each one and tell my mind. Everything depends on the will. Therefore, I thought,
learned that I had merited to intuit the words of the Imrei Emet him: “You are vindicated, because you were prevented from going. apparently Danny doesn’t want to change. But I immediately
of Gur (as quoted in Mitzvotechah Sha’ashu’ati: Imrot HaP’nei Menachem), We can see what happened in these heavenly ‘videos,’ exactly as rejected this idea. That isn’t so. Danny talks with me and asks me
who challenges a statement of the Chida. The Chida writes that you testified. But even so, why didn’t you want…?” for advice. More than once, I heard him say how much he wants
“nothing can withstand [a person’s] will,” and he implies that a good character traits, how much he wants a peaceful home. On one
person can actualize and attain everything that he wants, and that The heavenly court will show each one of these people that others occasion, when he was speaking bitterly about his angry outbursts,
there is no such thing as wanting something and failing to attain it. with much greater obstacles did attend. Those others wanted and he told me that all he wants is to be rescued from the trait of anger
But the Imrei Emet points out that this assertion is contradicted continued to want, until they succeeded in attending. The court and to attain serenity and composure. And many times he told me
by the Gemara in Berachot (6a), which says: “If a person intended will tell Reuven: “When you saw that your father was determined that he wants to be happy, yet happiness eludes him. The most
to perform a mitzvah but he was thwarted, Scripture considers it as to stop you, you set aside your intent. Look at Gadi. His father noticeable sign that Danny does want to change is that he suffers so
though he did it.” It appears from this Gemara that there are things locked him in his room, so that he was physically unable to go. But