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kollel students and scholars who do not change inwardly. They 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.
remain with the same cravings and the same bad traits, the same evil 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
inclination and the same anger and arguments with their neighbors to apply our choice in actual deeds. everything and achieve everything. But this power that exists in
and family. They remain with their envy and with their worries. every human being is deeply hidden from our eyes. We do not
They derive no energy from their prayers and from closeness to the Nothing Will Help recognize it, nor do we recognize the simple ways of applying it.
Creator. As the years pass, they only sink deeper and deeper into a Therefore, we must discover this great secret, the secret of life.
gray routine without true life and without true sweetness in serving The goal of every person in the world, without exception, is to
Hashem. Everything is automatic. choose good. It is impossible to evade this obligation. And the If you do not devote time every day to want to change,
essence of choosing applies precisely to those areas where it is hard you will not change!
And the fact that they do not change for the better is the to change. Unfortunately, when a person sees that something is
least that can be said. If only that were the entire problem! But difficult for him, he mistakenly thinks that he has no choice. But by That is the answer to the questions with which this chapter
unfortunately they are far from the foundations of Judaism. They 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
are subject to flaws of the “covenant” (sensuality), evil speech, 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?
causeless hatred, dispute, lack of family harmony, lack of faith in 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
the sages—and, most terrible of all, distance from simple faith, 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
distance from knowledge. Woe! 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
choose. and powerful will. Only in this way do we strengthen our will.
The question is: how is it possible that in learning the holy Torah, Therefore, only when we apply the will in work is it possible to say
which “restores the soul and makes the foolish wise” (Psalms 19:7), Thus, every individual is obligated to dedicate time to the work that “nothing stands before the will” in the simple meaning of
a person stays in one place, and even descends and sinks, instead of of will: the simple Jew who works for a living, the mother, the the phrase.
rising? How is it possible that a person who learns, prays and keeps yeshiva student and the senior scholar, young and old, without any
the Torah and mitzvot does not become a burgeoning wellspring 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
and does not attain the “many things” that are listed at length at the work of the will cannot change. Period. It makes no difference “a person who intended to do a mitzvah and was thwarted and
the beginning of the sixth chapter of Avot (1)? Where is his joy? 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
Where are his humility and reverence? Where is his connection 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.
to “being righteous, pious, upright and faithful, distant from sin, 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
close to merit, with people benefiting from his advice and counsel, particular, regarding the most central and important things, which (as mentioned in the previous chapter), and fortunate is he and
understanding and might”? Where is his connection to being 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
“modest and patient, forgiving insults, growing and rising above all 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
people”? Regarding this, we may say, “Woe to people because of And sometimes changes do occur but they are only superficial and can a person be led from heaven. Therefore, the work of the will
the insult to the Torah” that they cause (Avot 6:2). 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
challenges of life. rectification.
Know that every bit of progress, whether in learning or in inner
change, does not come on its own! All of those people who attained At my lectures, I meet Torah scholars who have been learning In accordance with this, I will interpret the concept of “free
great things and became renowned, righteous and pious leaders of for many years yet who nevertheless feel that they are far from choice” in a new light. The previous chapter taught that the central
Israel worked to achieve their goals. They labored. There are no 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
mistakes in this world. Without persistent, methodical, consistent eyes in holiness, and from guarding their tongues. They know that will. In accordance with what has been written in this chapter, when
and tenacious work of intent, you will not see any change. You will 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
be fortunate to at least stay the same and not regress. There is no 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
such thing as standing in one place. Either you are going forward or, appreciate the will, when we understand that it is our central tool