Free Will

A theme of Parshat ראה is the subject of free will. Moshe Rabbeinu explains that each individual Jew must make a choice. Will he choose the blessing and life, or the curse and death. The blessing, obviously, comes from the sincere observance of the Mitzvot.

Rabbi Elie Munk noted that we recognize the free will, בחירה חופשית, idea from the ברכות השחר, morning blessings. We first acknowledge that Hashem gave the rooster the ability to distinguish between the night and the morning. This is a form of free will given to the rooster.

We then follow with three blessings that reflect where we have no free choice. It is not up to us if we are born a Jew or not. Therefore, we thank Hashem that we are born Jewish and not a גוי.

We could have been born a slave, but give gratitude that we were born free. And we show appreciation that we are the gender that we are.

We do not have free will regarding our Jewishness, freedom, and gender. Other than that, we are given the ability to decide our own fate, by making the correct decisions that are right in the eyes of G-d. Shabbat Shalom