Despite our mistakes, we can return to Torah

The choice to do good or, G-d forbid, the opposite, is within our control.”

Parashat Nitzavim contains a celebrated pasuk that is quite timely for these final days before Rosh Hashana:

This day, I call upon the heaven and the earth as witnesses [that I have warned] you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. You shall choose life (u’vacharta ba’chayim), so that you and your offspring will live.” (Devarim 30:19)

As we look back upon the many challenges we have faced this past year, our thoughts naturally lead us to focus on the meaning of the phrase u’vacharta ba’chayim.

Rashi suggests the following interpretation of this expression: “I instruct you to choose the portion of life. It is like a man who says to his son, ‘Choose for yourself a fine portion of my estate,’ and then directs him to the best portion, saying to him, ‘This [is the portion which] you should choose for yourself!’”

Implicit in Rashi’s explanation is a crucial lesson regarding the relationship that obtains between Hashem’s instructions and the nature of our bechirah chafshite (free will); namely, even though the Almighty may urge us to follow a certain path, this does not prevent us from exercising our absolute freedom of choice. As such, in this short gloss, Rashi emphasizes the word “choose” no less than three times.

A century later, in his Commentary on the Torah, the Radak makes the transformative nature of bechirah chafshite explicit. In his analysis of Hashem’s statement to Cain following the rejection of his insufficient korban (Bereishit 4:7), he highlights how the same assertion, albeit in a different formulation, is once again given powerful voice in our pasuk:

“And you can rule over it [the evil inclination]: He will rule over you and cause you to stumble if you do not remove [his power] from upon you. And if you so desire, you will rule over it and bring it low before you. And in so doing, the Almighty showed him the possibilities found within bechirah, just as Moshe Rabbeinu, may his memory be blessed, said to us: ‘Behold, I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil… u’vacharta ba’chayim.’” (Devarim 30:15 and 19)

Both Rashi and the Radak emphasize the essential role that bechirah chafshite plays within Judaism. Its greatest advocate among all Medieval Jewish thinkers, however, was the Rambam, who devoted chapters five and six of Hilchot Teshuvah to its explication. Here is an example of the singular import bechirah chafshite held for him:

“This principle is a fundamental concept and a pillar [on which rests the totality] of the Torah and mitzvot as [Devarim 30:15] states: ‘Behold, I have set before you today life [and good, death and evil].’ Similarly, [Devarim 11:26] states, ‘Behold, I have set before you today [the blessing and the curse],’ suggesting that the choice is in your hands. Any one of the deeds of men that a person desires to do, he may do, whether good or evil. Therefore, [Devarim 5:26] states: ‘If only their hearts would always remain this way.’ From this, we can infer that the Creator does not compel or decree that people should do either good or bad. Rather, everything is left to their [own choice].”

As the Rambam makes clear, we are not compelled to behave in a particular manner. The choice to pursue that which is good and righteous or, G-d forbid, the opposite course, is totally within our control: “The Creator does not compel or decree that people should do either good or bad.”

We will surely make mistakes; yet, if we dedicate ourselves to studying and living according to the Torah, we will be well on our way to fulfilling the thrilling words, “u’vacharta ba’chayim!” V’chane yihi ratzon.

Shabbat Shalom and may Hashem in His infinite mercy remove the pandemic from klal Yisrael and all the nations of the world. Kativah v’Chatimah Tovah to one and all.