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Why does the Rambam (רמב"ם) place the laws of bechirah in Hilchos Teshuvah rather than among the fundamentals of faith? The shiur develops a chiddush that bechirah means we literally create ourselves through our choices - choosing good makes us good people, not just earns reward. This creative power explains why the same force that creates can also recreate through teshuvah.
This shiur presents a revolutionary understanding of bechirah (choice) based on Parshas Nitzavim, particularly the pasuk 'ubacharta b'chaim' (choose life). The speaker begins by analyzing Rashi (רש"י)'s commentary on Devarim 29:25, which discusses idolatry, noting that the Maharal questions why Rashi switches the order of the pasuk's elements. The central thesis emerges: bechirah is not merely free will but the power to create reality itself. The speaker addresses a fundamental question about the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s structure - why are the laws of bechirah placed in Hilchos Teshuvah rather than Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah? The Sefer HaBa'at criticized this placement, arguing that free will belongs among the fundamental principles of faith. However, the speaker demonstrates that the Rambam follows the Torah (תורה)'s own structure in Parshas Nitzavim, where the discussion of choice immediately follows the laws of teshuvah.
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Parshas Nitzavim, Devarim 29:25, 30:19
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