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delight and satisfaction, as it were, come from the fact that “when Foreword
He spoke, His will was done” (siddur)—in the sense that people
want Him, choose Him and accept Him as their King, although they I will praise Your name, because You have done wonders; Your
could do otherwise. counsel from the past has been faithful and reliable. (Isaiah 25:1)
If people possessed no free will, what delight would the Creator There is much to tell and convey about the power of will. This book
have? By analogy, a person chosen from among a number of is unique in that it does not allow the topic to remain in the realm of
candidates feels satisfaction and delight; but if he is chosen theoretical discussion, but it is directed to the sole and single purpose
of helping you employ the tremendous power of your will in a practical
because there was no alternative, he will feel no delight. On an way. Therefore, you must clearly recognize that this book will be useful
infinitely different level, if the Creator’s goodness were revealed to you only when you apply its teachings. But in addition to the utility of
to all, obviously everyone would choose Him, and He would have this book, when you apply its instructions you will gain a comprehensive
no satisfaction and delight. The Creator wants people to choose understanding of this topic.
Him precisely when He is concealed. That is what gives Him true For many years, I have written and edited material on the topic of the
satisfaction. will. In all of my books, I have been privileged to experience how the Holy
One, blessed be He, has directed, dictated and decided what will go into
Therefore, when a person is in great darkness and great evil a book and what will not. In this instance too, He built and shaped this
confronts him, when he chooses and desires the Creator, he gives book until I had the privilege of completing it. To the very last stages of
greater delight to the Creator than the delight that comes to the the writing and editing, I saw God’s providence in every detail.
Creator from a great tzaddik who chooses goodness when he Even the name of the book descended from above in the most astonishing
encounters darkness and obstacles. The holy Zohar teaches that way. I had originally meant to give the book an entirely different name,
Jethro was a chief priest, the supreme authority over every form but as it took shape, Chapter Six: Cause a New Light to Shine on
of idolatry. When he came to the children of Israel and spoke with Zion, which presents an encompassing and deep exposition regarding the
Moses after the Exodus from Egypt and he said, “Now I know that book’s instructions, was revealed to me, and so I named the entire book
Hashem is greater than all of the gods” (Exodus 18:11), “the glory after this chapter: A New Light. (And in the Hebrew, this title contains
of the Holy One, blessed be He, was elevated above and below. the letters of my last name).
Afterwards, He gave the Torah fully when His governance was over I begin this book with praise and thanks to the Creator of the world for all
everything…. That is because the name of the Holy One, blessed of His kindness on my behalf, and with the prayer that everyone who learns
be He, is sanctified when the Other Side is shattered and subjugates this book will be privileged “to learn and teach, guard and act” (siddur),
itself to holiness” (Zohar: Yitro 67b). In accordance with this, Rabbi and attain a new light and illumination of the will. May you recognize
Nachman says that “the principal [manifestation of the] greatness and utilize the tremendous power of your will, and with it actualize the
of the Holy One, blessed be he, will exist when even gentiles will yearnings of your soul, which is aflame within you to reach its goal and
know that there is a God Who governs and rules” (Likutei Moharan fulfillment.
I 10). “Cause a new light to shine on Zion.” May we all soon be privileged to
attain that light. (Menachem Av 5776)
Giving God Satisfaction

If a person had no evil inclination, he would be like an angel.
The Holy One, blessed be He, has tens of thousands upon tens of “Everything in the world depends solely upon the will!”
thousands of angels. They possess nothing outside the will of Hashem,
(Zohar: Terumah 162b)