Beyond Choice1 min read

“And behold, angels were ascending an descending on it. And behold, Hashem was planted standing above him…”

In Michtav M’Eliyahu, Rav Eliyahu Dessler famously discusses the concept of “nekudas habechirah”, the ever-shifting locus of free choice. (This idea is founded in Likutei Moharan 72.) At different stages of our lives, the dynamic of our free choice changes. For example, while a recent Ba’al Teshuvah may struggle with using his phone on Shabbos, a few years down the line it is likely that his nekudas habechirah will shift. Having been replaced with more subtle struggles in accordance with his level of observance, refraining from using his phone on Shabbos will no longer require effort. On the contrary: although, theoretically, he yet maintains the free-choice to break Shabbos, all the money in the world couldn’t convince him to do so. In a certain way, then, his relationship to Shabbos will have transcended his nekudas habechirah – it is now beyond his choice.

The holy Ishbitzer teaches that when it comes to His relationship with the Jewish nation, this dynamic is true about Hashem as well. No matter how many times we anger Him and attempt to sever our bond, Hashem’s connection to our collective soul is “beyond choice”. Although from our perspective we may experience closeness and distance from Him, from Hashem’s perspective, our relationship is unconditional – nothing in the world could make Him forsake our holy nation. It is simply beyond choice.

This, says the Mei HaShiloach, is the meaning of our verse: “V’hinei malachei Elokim olim v’yordim bo”: While it may be within our nekudas habechirah to ascend or ch”v descend the ladder of avodas Hashem, “V’hinei Hashem nitzav alav”: Hashem is firmly rooted in place (“nitzvav” –“matzeiva”); always near, every accessible, and eternally obsessed with each and every one of us in Whom He takes the greatest pride.