Rabbi Shlomo Riskin and Rabbi Steven Bayar Discuss Free Will and God’s Demands in Deuteronomy

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin examines the biblical passage in Parshat Reeh, interpreting the blessing and curse as a divine gift of free will. He links the covenant of mutual responsibility to the land of Israel and questions its applicability to Jews living in the diaspora, emphasizing that freedom of choice carries both the potential for good and the risk of wrongdoing.

Rabbi Steven Bayar reflects on the same portion of Deuteronomy, asking what God wants from the people. He highlights the core demand: reverence, love, and service to God expressed through keeping the commandments. Bayar stresses that this directive offers a framework for personal and communal devotion, even amid suffering and loss.