DavidT wrote on 21 Jan 2022 14:57:
There's a lot of confusion in this topic.
Hashem is indeed the source of free-choice, but ultimately, it is HE who fights this battle for us. Jewish Hashkafa agrees with the 12-Steps. Rabbi Twerski has a whole book showing how the 12-Steps is similar to the Torah approach ("Self Improvement? I'm Jewish!). It says in the holy books that Hashem wants us to try our very best to break the Yetzer Hara. When we see we can't, he steps in and does it for us. But he only steps in if we have tried everything humanly possible and still cannot succeed. At that point, we have a true realization that we need him and that only HE can do. And when we have that true realization, we have a true "vessel" for his help, and that is when he steps in and does it for us. This is the Jewish approach, and this is also the core of the 12-Steps as well. "Admitting powerlessness and surrendering to Hashem" means, we have tried everything and cannot succeed on our own. At that point, we are READY for Hashem to help us.
One explanation can be found in the Ohr Hachayim (Acharei Mos, 18:2)
" It is known that all the Mitzvos that Hashem commanded his holy nation are Mitzvos that a man can stand by and cause himself a desire to do, besides for the Mitzva of staying away from arayos (illicit sexual relations) which is something that a person craves and his desires forces him to act, unless one makes an effort to stay far away from two things: 1) Seeing with the eyes, 2) Thinking about it. However, if a person does not keep away from these two aspects (sight and thought), a man will not be able to control himself and rid himself of it.
And if one should ask, "How can a natural person be in control of his desires which "force" him to act? After all, it does not make sense that Hashem would obligate all men equally to guard themselves in this area, only people who can stand up and have the will power to deny this desire! And these are people who never came into the tests of seeing improper sights and thinking lustful thoughts. Only for such people did the Torah command these Mitzvos. But for people who already fell into these things, it is naturally impossible for a man to control himself and hold back from this craving that forces him to act!"
To counter this claim, Hashem wrote in the Torah with pleasant words of life, and the Parsha of Arayos starts out with the words "Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them, I am Hashem your G-d". For it is true that in the human race, besides for the Jewish people, they can claim this complaint and say that they did not find it in their strength to deny the power of this intense desire from themselves. However, with you, the Children of Israel, because I am Hashem your G-d - that is, you can achieve understanding and awareness of G-d - and through this G-dly strength, you will win over the natural physical drives. "
i have trouble reading, especially when the first sentence troubles me - it is not god who fights the battle (whatever fighting even means) for us; this world was given to us, and we fight (again that word). yes, ultimately, who gives us the power to succeed/fail? god, but he is a bystander watching us plan, strategize, implement, decide, etc. is there a time when we can throw up our hands and let god do? probably, but that would require someone who is on an extremely high level.
hiking in the woods in topside, boe, the raised plateau (closer to god) in the middle of nauru
