The genara (Shabbat 146) disputes whether yesh or ein mazal lyisrael. The
overwhelming majority say ein mazal which is interpreted as meaning that
good deeds and prayer can overcome what was otherwise predestined (AIUI).
Most of the proofs seem based on cases where the amoraim knew what the
result was supposed to be but somehow it did not occur. I always thought
that ein mazal was a slam dunk, but now it occurs to me that there’s a very
strong reason for saying yesh (that at least sometimes a future result
can’t be changed by human efforts.)
If every decree can be changed by human effort, it would seem to me that it
would be theoretically quite possible that HKBH could not promise us
anything with 100% certainty since there would always be a combination of
human efforts, even though extremely low probability, which would not yield
that result. Thoughts?
bsorot tovot
joel rich
We don't have total free will. For an easy example, we cannot choose to
flap our arms until we fly.
And there are so many choices we aren't given to choose among.
And more so according to REED, saying that not all of our actions are
free-willed choices, only those about which we are conflicted enough
to consciously think about. Habit, reflex, "decisions" made before you
even realized it -- not bechirah chofshi. In other words, most of us
don't "choose" not to steal that nice watch from the store because the
thought never even crosses our minds.
But in any case, back to the topic...
We can choose between our options, but Hashem chooses our options.
I question whether "there would always be a combination of human
efforts, even though extremely low probability, which would not yield
that result." If one believes in universal HP, as opposed to the Ohr
haChaim discussed here in the past (or all or nearly all rishonim) one
would have to believe that Hashem can set things up that His Hashgachah
is manifest in every scenario we are capable of setting up.
Tir'u baTov!
-Micha