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שבת שלום - פרשת וילך - יום כיפור
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Video Shiur
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Click play to watch the video shiur by Rav Pesach Wolicki
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News and Notes
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The entire yeshiva experienced an inspiring Rosh Hashanah this week, with beautiful tefillot
led by Rav Kahn, Rav Wolicki, Rav Lichtman, Rav Katz, Rav Arnold, and Rav Druyan.
Our students were moved by the divrei hitorerut of Rav Kahn, Rav Simkovich, and Rav
Arram, as well as by the expert shofar blowing of Rav Yehuda Aronson and Ron Halibard.
On Tzom Gedaliah, Rav Wolicki led the yeshiva on a trip to Nachal Sorek for Tashlich.
Nachal Sorek, which is situated approximately five minutes away from the yeshiva, is the
brook mentioned in Sefer Shoftim as the place where Shimshon met Delilah.
The yeshiva is now gearing up for the final three days of learning before Yom Kippur,
and the start of bein hazmanim. The teaching staff has been thrilled by the diligence and
hard work of our shana alef and shana bet students; everyone agrees that this has been the
strongest Elul zman Yesodei HaTorah has had. We eagerly anticipate the remainder of the year,
and expect the kol Torah in the Beit Midrash to become even stronger.
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Freedom vs. Fate
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
"It is written: 'And this nation will arise and stray after the alien gods of the land,' (Devarim 31:16) [seemingly implying that] He decreed that Israel would serve idols. If so, why did He punish them? Because He did not decree that a particular person would be the one who strayed. Rather, each and every one of those who strayed to idol-worship could have chosen not to serve idols if he did not want to serve them...
Thus, a wicked person cannot say that since G-d told Moshe that there would be wicked people in Israel, it is decreed that he will be wicked." (Rambam, Hilchot Teshuva 6:5)
The Rambam quotes a verse in this week's parashah that foretells the straying of Jews to idolatry. The Rambam makes the philosophical point that a person can not use this as an excuse for evil behavior. A person can not say, "Since there have to be some wicked people - as G-d said there would be - I am merely a fulfillment of that decree."
At first glance, the Rambam's point seems obvious. It even seems a bit infantile. Would anyone actually excuse themselves for any wicked behavior on the basis that G-d decreed that some evil people will exist? Is there really a need for this passage in the Rambam? Is the Rambam writing for sociopaths?
I would like to suggest that the Rambam is alluding to two incorrect lines of thinking - or feeling - that lead a person to sin.
The first is the feeling of insignificance. People all too often view themselves as merely members of the masses. They see themselves as average unexceptional people and see no reason why they shouldn't be any different from that which society around them expects them to be. When the Rambam posits that someone might say "Since G-d told Moshe that there would be wicked people in Israel, it is decreed that he will be wicked," I would like to suggest that he means that someone might simply view himself as a helpless product of the society or position in which he finds himself.
This leads to the second corruptive attitude, i.e. fatalism. Many people do not actually believe that they can be great. They don't believe that they can actually be masters of their own behavior and lifestyle. Too many people believe and feel that how they are is predetermined and not really subject to their own free will. To these people the Rambam says that no person can say that his fate is decreed.
The Rambam teaches a powerful lesson. Even if the direction society takes is inevitable and unstoppable, the individual retains his free will and responsibility to choose his own path.
As we stand in prayer on Yom Kippur we will confess and state our remorse for many transgressions. Many of these transgressions are behaviors that we do not realistically see ourselves changing. Much of this feeling is due to the incorrect belief that change is not really possible, that who we are is set in stone. Too often we believe that our spiritual state - good or bad - is decreed.
To maximize our repentance process leading up to and including the atonement of Yom Kippur, we must realize that nothing could be further from the truth. Our lives are our choices. It is never too late or impossible. Who we are is up to us.
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