Dvar Torah for Bereishis

Based on Free Will

The topic of free will is often discussed in Breslov literature. The following offerings are the barest tip of the iceberg.

Rabbi Nachman's Wisdom #300: Free will - its purpose

The Rebbe once told me, "Everything you see in the world"everything that exists"is all for the sake of free will, in order to test people."

Rabbi Nachman's Wisdom #308: Free will and livelihood

Even then [in times gone by], many people thought that times were troublesome and one must only worry about his livelihood. These people departed from this world without joy or pleasure....

Even today you have free will. You have the power to escape from these painful discussions and worries. You can ignor them and trust in God, abandoning the struggles of this bitter world and involving yourself in the struggles of the Torah. God will certainly sustain you. Does He not sustain all the world, now as always? And now God runs the world better than ever.

This world was always filled with worries and suffering. Things have not changed. It is written, "In pain you shall eat...by the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread" (Genesis 3:17). This was decreed since the time of Adam's sin; there is no place to escape. These worries and pains destroy a person's life. The only shelter is God and His Torah.

Rabbi Nachman's Wisdom #83: Free will and phobias

You have free will. You can easily train your mind to avoid the thing inside you that is responsible for your fears and desires.

Likutey Moharan II, Lesson #110: Free will - who has it?

I heard that someone asked [Rebbe Nachman] to define free will. He answered simply, "Free will is, quite simply, under a person's control. If a person wants, he acts. If he doesn't want, he doesn't act."

I [Reb Noson] have recorded this because its extremely necessary. Many people are confused by this issue because their habits and way of life are so ingrained in them from childhood. Therefore, they think they have no free will, God forbid, and are powerless to change their behavior.

In truth, however, this is not so. Each person always has free will, concerning everything, and does as he wants. Understand these words well.

Rabbi Nachman's Wisdom #124: Free will and its dissolution

You would only have to listen carefully, and sincerely heed [Rebbe Nachman's] words. Every word would literally fly into you like a bolt of fire. You would feel yourself being drawn to God and bound up with Him in a wondrous fiery bond.

There were many such times when we felt that we were standing before the awesome Holy Splendor [of God] itself. We felt that we no longer had free will. It was as if we were powerless to go against God's will and that we would never again be separated from Him. The Rebbe's words drew us so strongly to God that we were sure that we could never oppose His will by transgressing even the most minor commandment. But experiences such as these are totally beyond description. [Such feelings cannot be maintained for very long, however. See Rabbi Nachman's Wisdom #1.]

Even today, you can become involved in the Rebbe's published works. If you study them sincerely and probe their depth, your heart will certainly be drawn to God by the Rebbe's holy words. For all his words are like burning coals.

A section of Likutey Tefilot I, #29 (freely rendered)

Even though You've given me free will
to choose good
and shun evil
nonetheless
prayer helps for this itself
that You turn my heart to You
and control my urge for evil
to be subject to You

Prayer helps
that You come to my help
force me to abandon wicked ways
and take hold of good
harmonious ways
the path of Life.

This is my only hope
prayer, pleading
crying out to You
crying to You
with Your compassion
draw me ever-closer
to You

Do with me kindly
what's necessary
so I totally shun evil
and do good
from now
forever

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!