Divine Omniscience

Kabbalistically speaking, the world is wired. Just like your brain has your entire body wired, checking up on activity in every limb, so the universe has nodes of cosmic awareness planted everywhere. They're known as Ayins.

I walked into the big room. Actually, I was led into the big room. Nobody just walks where they choose to in prison. I saw all the women, dressed in green shirts and green pants, sitting around. Quiet. Almost lifeless. Their souls beaten...

Three classical approaches to the paradox of divine knowledge and human choice in the light of chassidic philosophy

There are those who are unable to proceed with life because they have concluded that everything is just fate. We are always thinking in terms of a cause and an effect, that there is a world which is being run and a G‑d that runs it. Therefore, we imagine ...

Sources: Torah Or, Parshas Vayeira;Likkutei Sichos, Vol. V, pp. 65ff;Vol. III, pp. 976-977;Chiddushim U’Biurim, Vol. III, p. 108;Igros Kodesh, Vol. III, pp. 40, 49 Rabbi Yitzchak of Neschiz spent his youth in the household of R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditche...

Sources: Tanya, Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah, ch. 9;Derech Mitzvosecha,Mitzvas HaAmanas Elokus, chs. 3-4,Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefillah, chs. 28-30;the series of maamarim entitled Yom Tov Shel Rosh HaShanah 5666 , pp. 167-168 Once R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev ...

Free will in Judaism is the capacity to choose between different courses of actions, words or thoughts—not due to outside influence, internal nature or any sort of personal preference. Just a balanced choice between right and wrong. This notion that human...

Doesn't G‑d already know what we're going to say?

A summary of Maimonides' "Thirteen Principles," widely accepted as the authoritative articulation of the fundamentals of the Jewish Faith.

Shouldn't G‑d be held accountable for all the suffering that He is aware of, and certainly is in the position to ameliorate? G‑d should be required to answer for His "missteps"—at least as they impact our lives!