Sept. 7, 2023

Parshas Netzavim-Vayeilech: Embrace Your Power: A Discussion on Choice and Responsibility in Jewish Thought

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Season 5

What if the key to life's richness lay not in the mere act of existing, but in the choices we make? This episode unravels the profound concept of Bechira- the unique human capacity for free will. Life and death are not just biological states, but determined by the decisions we make, with blessing and curse on the balance scale. Your prosperity, your legacy, and indeed your very aliveness are in your hands, waiting for you to make the choice for life, to earn your pulse. 

Yet, we find that this fundamental Jewish faith appears to be slipping away. Drawing from the writings of Rav Wolbe in Alei Shor, we dive into the troubling rise of fatalistic thinking and a culture of evading personal responsibility, especially when it comes to transgressions. We challenge the excuses such as pleading insanity in criminal cases - a reflection of a larger problem. Remember, you always have the power to change, to choose, to control your actions. Whether you ascend to greatness or plunge into ignominy, it's up to you. So, choose life, choose righteousness, and truly live. Join us as we explore this thought-provoking topic.

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Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com



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Just because you have breath moving in and out of your lungs and blood pumping through your heart, it does not mean that you are alive, says the Posaq Ha'chayim Ve Ha'movis, nosati Liffon Neha.

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Life and death.

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I have placed before you Ha'brahava Ha'klala, and they are defined by blessing and curse.

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Uba Ha'rta B'chaim and choose life.

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This is what we call B'kheera free will, the ability that only one species on planet earth has, and that is the ability to choose B'kheera free will.

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Henceforth, any sort of wheel or woe that you would like to bring upon yourself is in your hands.

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Anyone would like to be prosperous and accomplish great things.

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B'kheera, it's in your hands.

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Go ahead, choose life.

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B'kha'rta B'chaim.

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The game has been set.

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Make your move and earn your pulse.

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But even this fundamental Jewish faith is slipping away.

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Revolva describes in Ali Shor in volume 2 that we have had many heretical and blasphemous attacks on the Jewish population, but this is one of the worst.

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B'zman ha'zah people really believe that they have to sin, that they are trapped in who they are, that they have no choice.

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So they throw up their hands and say I am who I am.

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They have given up and they have denied a basic human understanding how God gave us the Torah B'kha'rta B'chaim you always have the ability to choose.

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It's unbelievable.

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Did you know that a person may have murdered somebody and they are sitting on trial in a criminal case and they can walk out scot-free using a defense called pleading?

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Insanity?

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That, according to Cornelledu, you simply walk in and say I admit my action, but I assert a lack of culpability based on mental illness and therefore you say it wasn't me, I'm not responsible.

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It doesn't make any sense.

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When a person does something, you are obligated to take responsibility.

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U'b'chartab'chayah means we have choice and we must take responsibilities for our actions.

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A person that tries to tell Hashem yes, I sinned, but it wasn't my fault, I had to, and don't imagine it will be bought by Hashem, because you always have a choice.

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The Ram Bam Pascans, the Halacha.

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You can become as great as Moshe Rabbeinu or as wretched as Yeravim ben-evat.

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U'b'chartab'chaim, and it's up to us.

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We must choose To wash away all of the fabrications and fallacies and all that shaker that says I am who I am and I'm stuck.

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You were who you were, but moving forward.

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Choose life, choose righteousness.

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Mimik Hashem, flex your muscles in your free will.

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Become a person and earn your pulse.

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Allah khanaim.