Free Choice vs. Destiny

why--who got answered first Could it be the reason why Jacob was answered first --Abraham was promised that Through Jacob WOULD WE COME..so of course HASHEM would hear Jacob PRAYER First ..For the promise was to him Not Through Rivka. Reply

Destiny or Choice? Our souls have been around and a part of G-d from the beginning, so we live accordingly to the part we were made. We can always move up the ladder if the desire and curiosity was placed there. We're the ones who strayed from this Source in the beginning in order to learn, and to this Source we will return. God knew who we were, and what was placed in us, to make us choose. Reply

Thank You! Once again Rabbi, a true lesson that one can bring to their everyday lives. Truly inspirational! Reply

Free Choice versus Destiny At the beginning of the lecture Rabbi Kaplan you you mentioned that the class was going to be on Esau and Yacob. But most of the lecture was on Abraham and Isaac. When you come to mention Lavan and Abraham's father, both were wicked. Was Rivka's mother the one who was righteous?Who and what was Rivka's mother? I never knew that Rivka went to Shem to ask him about her pregnancy. I thought she prayed to Hashem, Blessed be His Name. Yes Esau had the campacity to become righteous but he chose to be evil. And as the way I see the Jewish people have suffered tremendously this past generations the most horrendous crimes. You are so right Rabbi Kaplan, generic is not our power it is our trust in the Most High G-d and the seeking of His presence for guidance. The choises we make are very important to determine what our future will be. Even if we have been deceived with idolatry, we need to seek the truth hidden in Torah. Reply

thank you what else is there to say....your the best!

thanks for being the "good boy" and explaining how the world REALLY works.

of course...there is always a question of WHY(?) ....but that is for a deeper understanding that maybe nobody knows BUT.... it is what it is! Reply