Choice, the Privilege and the Responsibility ,

Moshe Kempinski



Traditional Jewish theology has declared that one of the greatest gifts G-d has given mankind is the power to choose.



" And now, Israel, what does HaShem your G-d ask of you, but to fear the HaShem your G-d, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the HaShem your G-d, with all your heart and with all your soul; (Deuteronomy 10:12)



The verb to "ask” pre-supposes the possibility of choice.



The people of Israel in the State of Israel are again standing before a choice. A new leadership for this beleaguered nation will be chosen within a very short time. Yet choices are not as easily free as we might assume. There are situations where there is no option of choice, a situation where all the alternatives are equally negative. There are times when the effort to investigate and explore the options is so cumbersome and overwhelming, that the choice is dictated by the winds of public opinion and preconceived notions. There are also times when choice is viewed and acted upon as randomly as the throw of a die and those types of choices are not truly free.



Yet choice and discernment is not only a responsibility but it clearly is a privilege. That is true even if the effect of your choice is seemingly negligible. Every individual must remember that the little picture is in fact "the Big Picture" in the development of history. Regrettably there are those that because of negative past experiences with the electoral process have decided that "what is the point, I cannot make a difference." In the short term they may be correct. They voted in Ariel Sharon and they got the disengagement. They voted in Netanyahu and the received the Wye and the Hebron agreement.



Yet choices cannot only be assessed by their short term successes and failures. They must be assessed by three critical parameters. Those parameters are, moral conscience and values, history and destiny, and ultimately one’s soul and its Creator.

Man and woman must make decisions which are true to one's conscious and are a function of his or her intrinsic value system. They must further make choices that are a function of what has been learnt in history and are that are directed by a clear vision of destiny and hope.



Yet most importantly and most liberating is the deep understanding that in the Heavens every act of choice, those that seem large and those that seem insignificant, are recorded and are treasured. It is this parameter that needs to be considered in the choices we make regarding the raising of our children, the choice of our spouse and even the choice of where to build our homes. It is no less true regarding the choosing of Israel’s leadership.



Pharaoh, in the days of Exodus ,made choices and was punished for those choices . Yet as generations of sages have asked ,why should he have been punished when in fact we read that;

' And I ( G-d) will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.( Exodus 7:3).

Maimonides explains that the example of Pharaoh teaches us there may be indeed a point beyond return over which a man forfeits his free choice and empowerment to repent. The Midrash on the book of Exodus declares “The wicked are under the control of their heart, as opposed to their heart being under their control,”. Evil is best defined by the decisions and actions that take into account only selfish desires and egocentric concerns .The Midrash is saying that each such choice inevitably leads to a frame of mind that continues those same decisions. Pharaoh took away his own free will by beginning with his policy of refusal, and the events took control of Pharaoh and forced him to follow its path to the inevitable and bitter end. G-d allowed Pharaoh to make those choices and live with its implications.
The Ramban and the Sforno offer another fascinating thought. Every single plague and national calamity ate away at Pharaoh’s resolve. Every supernatural event chipped away at any free will that Pharaoh may have originally had. G-d had to harden Pharaoh’s heart in order to bring his heart and awareness back to equilibrium of free choice. G-d did not take free choice away. He actually re-instated it.

This country has been inflicted by one plague after another. It began with the hatred of our neighbors followed by the indifference of the world. That was soon followed by the weakening of Israel's leadership and resolve which came along with the intensifying of the animosity of most of the world. The plagues of terrorism, corruption and selfish hedonism soon followed. It is becoming very difficult to live in this country and have the courage and the resolve to make real and honest choices. We will have to dig deeply into our reservoirs of faith and vision in order to choose with intelligence and truth. We will need G-d’s help to return us into the equilibrium and balance of true free choice.

Now that it seems clear that Netanyahu will be the next Prime Minister , it has become increasingly important to ensure that a clear, courageous voice of the land of Israel, its torah and its vision ,is strengthened. Especially if such a voice becomes lost within Binyamin Netanyahu’s attempts to be politically correct.

For me, that meant to do all that I can to influence those that love this land and people to vote for the National Union/ Ichud Leumi party. The land of Israel movement represented by the National Union, has brought together people of all types. It seems that the love for the land of Israel is the vessel G-d has used to imbue all of them with an undying sense of purpose and direction. It is a voice that must not be silenced. It is a voice that must be heard above the din of small politicians and raucous media .It is a voice that will strengthen the elected leadership to avoid the pitfalls of misguided policies. .

Yet most important of all , is that though a small party, its voice of faith and resolve is the strong voice that will empower the people of this country to become all that they need to be.