[Avodah] dvar reshut

Rich, Joel via Avodah avodah at lists.aishdas.org
Fri Jan 6 06:22:43 PST 2017


> Is there a true concept of dvar reshut or at every moment
> is there only one thing that maximizes HKB"H's happiness
> with us
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My feeling is that this touches upon the very nature of the concept of "obligation". Why on earth would one think that it is okay to choose the one that *doesn't* maximize His happiness? I don't know if I'm "obligated" to choose the better one as a matter of legality, but am I not obligated to do so by *practicality*? Why would one shirk away from maximizing His happiness? This is a matter of logic, not law.

It is probably impossible for a mere mortal to figure out which sefer is the better choice, so I can't imagine that Hashem would punish one for choosing the lesser choice. But that only applies to "punishment" in the simple sense. There will certainly be consequences for the choice, for he will know this sefer better than that sefer. He will reap rewards for choosing the better, and suffer consequences for choosing the lesser.

I now think that the question might be reframed to say: Are you asking about law, or about consequences?
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I agree that one could differentiate between law and consequences as you articulated. In a relationship of ahava I would simply think in the maximization terms.  The practical nafka mina to me is how much effort does one expend to determine the local maximum if there is only one thing that maximizes.
KT
Joel Rich
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