A Missed Opportunity
A recruiter recently shared with me an experience he had with a job candidate. They had found him a place that seemed to be a perfect fit for both the employer and prospective hire. It met his abilities and career goals, and they discussed with him how he would be able to grow in the position. They talked about the expected salary, and though it was lower than he wanted, there was serious room for opportunity in the future, and the employers had made it clear what their top number was at this time.
He went to the interview and the recruiter was waiting for the good news. But it never came. Instead, they said, “He’s not for us.”
You see, when the employer asked the man what salary he was looking for, he blurted out a number that was 50% higher than what he and the recruiter had discussed. The candidate knew their top number. The employer knew their top number. The recruiter knew their top number. This spooked the employer and the job offer was not made.
When the recruiter asked the man what possessed him to answer as he did, the man replied, “I figured I’d try my luck.” Well, he tried and didn’t get the job.
The recruiter’s point in telling the story was that pushing your luck may not be the best plan. One moment of impulsivity and the opportunity was lost, plus he made the recruiters look foolish.
Free Will in Judaism: When Effort Isn’t Enough
I thought about it. As much as we speak about free will, Hashem (God) will take away someone’s bechirah (free will) when necessary. Despite the recruiter’s best intentions, this man was NEVER going to get the job that day. How do I know? Because he didn’t.
If he was meant to get it, then the employer would have countered with the lower number, and the guy would have accepted. For whatever reason, Hashem put it in this man’s head to say something that would put a stop to his hire.
Free Will vs. Divine Providence
The concept of free will versus Divine Providence is a complex one, but let me try to simplify my understanding. Hashem doesn’t need us to do things. He can do it all, but He gives us the chance to be his partners and benefit from our efforts.
But this is HIS business, and He has a plan for how things should run. We can try to accomplish things, but in the end, it will be Hashem’s decision what actually happens.
When Failure is Comforting
To digress for a moment, this is heartening, because when we make a valiant attempt and still fail, we can know that it wasn’t meant to be. As I tell my kids often, “If it happened, it was meant to happen.”
Spiritual Autonomy
The only place our efforts make an actual difference is in spiritual matters. Hakol b’yedei shamayim, chutz m’yirat shamayim – everything is in the hands of Heaven, except fear of Heaven.
While Hashem can do anything, He created a world where free will is essential to our spiritual development. Instilling fear of Him directly would undermine that very free will. Within this Divine framework, He allows us to be the managing partner in that respect.
Exercising Free Will: What Really Matters in Judaism
But let’s go back to the Jewish understanding of free will. If we can’t change the outcomes, what is the point of trying? Where does our free will come into play?
The simple answer is that if we try to make good happen, then whether or not it does, we will be better off for having chosen to try. If we try to make bad happen, we will be held accountable for our choices too.
I recently had a flash of inspiration regarding the choices we can make while I was thinking about our Jewish hostages held in Gaza, may Hashem bring them home soon.
Choosing Our Hishtadlut
If the outcome is decided already, I can still choose what hishtadlut (effort) I make. Hostage families have been making efforts to bring their loved ones home, and I was reflecting on the efforts they made.
Let’s assume the things they do will have no impact on when the hostage comes home, or if they will. That’s still Hashem’s choice.
The ones who have been organizing Tehillim (the reciting of Psalms) and other mitzvah groups, or building a shul as a merit, are putting their faith in Hashem. Whether they effect a release or not, at the end of the day, they have made the world a better place.
Then there are other families whose efforts are focused on blaming Netanyahu, disturbing others, and fomenting protests. They put their faith in Man. Since Hashem is going to decide the hostage’s fate, they haven’t actually achieved anything, so what do they have to show for their screaming?
Filling Our World with Emunah
We each get to make our choices. Will we fill the space around us with hatred and resentment, or with emunah (faith in God) and positivity?
The results are not in our hands, but the efforts are. If we can remember, that at the end of the day, Hashem decides what we will earn, how we will live, and what we will go through, we can take the time to choose wisely.
Hopefully we’ll choose to be partners with Hashem by doing what He’d want us to do, and then we won’t have any regrets.
By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
Rabbi Gewirtz (Operation Inspiration) welcomes comments and feedback. Write to him at info@JewishSpeechWriter.com to share your thoughts. You never know when you may be the lamp that enlightens someone else.
