S1E8 - Arthur Stern

Welcome to the Aseret Podcast, where we learn about character, kindness, wisdom, and virtue from living examples of inspiring people, based on the ethical and moral vision of the Ten Commandments or the Aseret HadDibrot.

How many of you have a strong, deep rooted desire to rob a jewelry store or to steal the beautiful lamborghini you saw the other day? My guess would be none of you. It’s just not within your realm of choice to do. But what about the desire to yell at your loved one? Or to snooze the alarm day after day? I am sure these moral dilemmas hit a little closer to home.

You might be asking: why do I bring this up?

Well the great Rav Eliyahu Desler describes a concept of utmost significance in the human understanding of free will. It is called the Nekudat HaBechirah (נְקֻדַּת הַבְּחִירָה) or “Choice Point.” In life, our choices do not exist in a vacuum; each of us have grown up with different temperaments, inclinations, environments, and life experiences that impact our decision making and define what tempts us.

Our real moral challenges are when we struggle on the battlefield between doing right and wrong, tempted to do the wrong, but have a fighting chance to do the right. Yes, people in a single moment can do Teshuva and completely turn their life around, but for most people in most situations, change and growth is slow and balanced.

For example, it is very likely that a person who grew up keeping Shabbat is not tempted from week to week to break it. Sure, they are rewarded for observance, but that is not where their character is tested. And yet, another person may have started attempting to keeping Shabbat at a later time in life. They have won some battles and now keep Friday night. Their current struggle is extended to keeping Shabbat till after morning services.

Keeping a full Shabbat, is likely outside of the realm of their choice point, and not keeping it at all is no longer their battle.

Our guest today, Reb Arthur Stern, is a criminal lawyer and mensch par excellance. He has also been involved heavily in many incredible Jewish causes as a layfundraiser, especially with the Village Shul in Toronto, Canada.

Wherever he goes, he tries to bring wisdom, words of encouragement, laughter and simcha to those he shares moments with. And he defends people whose choice points are likely much more different than our own. Yes, of course, they are responsible for the crimes they commit, but what do you expect from a person who was born into a third generation family, involved in organized crime? It would take superhuman effort for them to do full Teshuva and escape that life. Before you look at yourself as all good and them as all bad, ask yourself while listening to this episode:

What is your choice point and what is theirs?

In this fascinating episode, we can get a special inside view of the criminal law profession. Reb Arthur is raw and honest about the challenges his clients face with the Eighth Dibber of Lo Tignov, Do Not Steal. With humour and humility, he also describes the difficulties he himself faces in his own practice, as being a criminal lawyer can be fraught with moral dilemmas.

I think this episode can really help us develop a sensitivity to just how hard it is to be good, how much effort and devotion it takes, and how appreciative we can be when we do the right thing and make the changes. We are complicated beings, but one thing is for sure; it sure feels so good to be good and do good in this world.

As for the episode, we hope you find it meaningful! Click HERE to Listen, and don’t forget to subscribe.

Love, Noach Binyamin

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