Editing Matan Torah (section)

== The Innovation of Choice ==
The innovation in choice exists in several details: Free choice is defined as when the only motivator for the choice is the person's will, without any consideration of the qualities and characteristics of the chosen thing. Just as a choice made under external coercion would not be considered free choice, similarly, a choice motivated by the qualities and characteristics of the chosen thing would not be considered free choice. The reason being, just as it's possible to force someone to choose something against their will, similarly when the qualities and characteristics of something stand before the chooser's eyes, the thing itself "forces" and draws the chooser to choose it. As the Rebbe states: "For a rational person, logical reasoning compels and forces them more than physical coercion."

The aforementioned concept (that free choice means: choice not motivated by a person's inclination towards the qualities and characteristics of the chosen thing) necessitates that free choice is only possible within Atzmus (Essence). All levels, since they have some form and definition, cannot possibly avoid having some inclination towards things outside themselves. Similarly in the human soul, from the perspective of its powers, it must have inclination towards things outside its personality. For example: A rational person will necessarily choose things that logic demands, and things that logic opposes will necessarily cause them to oppose them. Similarly, a person with strong emotional feelings will necessarily be drawn to and choose things that affect their heart emotionally, or vice versa.

Similarly in Elokus (Divinity), all levels have form and definition, and therefore have inclinations that they necessitate, whether positive or negative. The only level that has no inclination to any side is Atzmus, because it isn't defined by any definition. Therefore, the chosen thing and its definition don't take up space and don't create an inclination, and the choice in it (for good or otherwise) is only from the perspective of His will and choice.