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and we set a framework to apply it and develop it, we reach a state He gave the Torah to human beings with all of their limitations. heaven forbid, you are going backward. Only the work of intent
in which heaven will guide us. That being the case, we will be able He is here and close to us. He gave everyone the power to attain changes a person, and only the work of intent prevents him
to apply our choice in actual deeds. everything and achieve everything. But this power that exists in from degenerating.
every human being is deeply hidden from our eyes. We do not
Nothing Will Help recognize it, nor do we recognize the simple ways of applying it. You Are Transformed into a New Person
Therefore, we must discover this great secret, the secret of life.
The goal of every person in the world, without exception, is to A woman returned to her home in Israel from an overseas trip
choose good. It is impossible to evade this obligation. And the If you do not devote time every day to want to change, to the gravesites of tzaddikim, deeply moved and overwhelmed by
essence of choosing applies precisely to those areas where it is hard you will not change! the intensity of the powerful feelings that she had experienced. On
to change. Unfortunately, when a person sees that something is her return home, she told her husband, “You are beyond hope
difficult for him, he mistakenly thinks that he has no choice. But by That is the answer to the questions with which this chapter of improving yourself!” When he asked her why she said that, she
engaging in the work of the will, choosing is entirely free. You can began: How do we attain will? How are the wonderful words of answered him, “I visited these holy places just once, and I have
and must devote a half hour of work every day to your every goal will transformed into a practical tool? How do we actually change? been transformed into another person. How is it possible that you
until you attain it. Otherwise, you will not change, and nothing will How can we reach a state in which, with the power of our will, we have gone on this trip several times, and you have always remained
help you. It must be said in the clearest way: only when a person are directed from heaven? Only when we apply our will in work the same?” She is right. Her husband should have changed and
devotes time to the work of the will does he possess the ability to and we dedicate time every day to this work can we attain a true been elevated every time he went.
choose. and powerful will. Only in this way do we strengthen our will.
Therefore, only when we apply the will in work is it possible to say What is the difference between them? Why did the woman feel
Thus, every individual is obligated to dedicate time to the work that “nothing stands before the will” in the simple meaning of the power of change at the gravesites of the tzaddikim, whereas her
of will: the simple Jew who works for a living, the mother, the the phrase. husband, who went many times, did not experience any change?
yeshiva student and the senior scholar, young and old, without any You already know the answer: she worked, whereas he went on
distinctions whatsoever. A person who does not dedicate time to If a person does not engage in the work of the will, he is in truth a trip, a visit. As it were, “he stamped his time card.” She sat
the work of the will cannot change. Period. It makes no difference “a person who intended to do a mitzvah and was thwarted and alongside each holy gravesite to which she came, and pleaded and
what he does and what he learns. Learning Torah without the did not do it.” Because he has a weak will, he does not succeed in wept profusely for a long time about some particular matter that
work of will does not change a person. He will improve here and actualizing it. It is true that his will is very good and it is not lost. disturbed and afflicted her. Therefore, she saw a change. But her
there, but in his essence he will remain as he had been before. In His will to do something good is considered like the deed itself husband—although he prayed, recited some psalms here and there,
particular, regarding the most central and important things, which (as mentioned in the previous chapter), and fortunate is he and made a few entreaties, and even wept, so that he certainly attained
are the essence of choice and the areas where a person needs true fortunate his portion. But he will not change, and he will not be what he attained and the tsaddikim prayed to bring about salvations
and powerful will, such as faith and holiness, he will not change. led from heaven. Only as a result of applying the work of the will on his behalf—did not sit by each gravesite for many hours. He
And sometimes changes do occur but they are only superficial and can a person be led from heaven. Therefore, the work of the will was not steadfast, he did not beg to attain the rectification of his
cosmetic, and so they melt and disappear as the person faces the is the sole key for everyone to rise upon the road to his personal soul. Therefore, he did not see any transformation in himself. That
challenges of life. rectification. is because without work we do not bring about any change. If on
At my lectures, I meet Torah scholars who have been learning In accordance with this, I will interpret the concept of “free every trip that he took he would choose a goal and stubbornly
entreat and beg Hashem to have mercy on him and give him what
for many years yet who nevertheless feel that they are far from choice” in a new light. The previous chapter taught that the central he asks for in the merit of the tsaddikim, each time he would return
serving Hashem with joy, far from faith, far from guarding their nexus of choice is not located in a person’s mind but solely in his home a new person and attain goal after goal.
eyes in holiness, and from guarding their tongues. They know that will. In accordance with what has been written in this chapter, when
they are not cleansed of cravings, and that many evil traits control we truly choose to engage in the work of the will, we can without The gravesites of the tzaddikim are a magnifying glass. The work
them. They ask me: “What is going on? Why don’t I change? Why a doubt implement that will in action. That is because, when we that a person does there expands and rises to heaven. If he works
appreciate the will, when we understand that it is our central tool