Editing Free will (section)

=== Judaism ===
{{main|Free will in theology#Judaism}} 
[[File:Flickr - USCapitol - Maimonides (1135-1204).jpg|thumb|right|[[Bas relief]] of Maimonides in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]]]]
In [[Jewish thought]] the concept of "Free will" ({{Langx|he|בחירה חפשית|translit=bechirah chofshit}}; {{Lang|he|בחירה}}, {{Transliteration|he|bechirah}}) is foundational. 
The most succinct statement is by [[Maimonides]], in a two part treatment, where human free will is specified as part of the universe's [[Jewish principles of faith#God is the creator of the universe|Godly design]]:
#Maimonides's reasoned<ref>Rambam Teshuvah 5:4</ref> that human beings must have free will (at least in the context of choosing to do good or evil), as without this, the demands of [[Nevi'im#Latter Prophets|the prophets]] would have been meaningless, there would be no need for the [[Torah]] and [[mitzvah|''Mitzvot'']] ("commandments"), and [[Jewish principles of faith#Reward and punishment|justice could not be administered]].
#At the same time, Maimonides&nbsp;– and other thinkers&nbsp;– recognizes<ref>Rambam Teshuvah 5:5</ref> the [[Free will in theology#The paradox of free will|paradox that will arise]] given (i) that Judaism simultaneously recognizes God's [[omniscience]], and further (ii) the nature of [[Divine providence in Judaism|Divine providence as understood in Judaism]]. (In fact the problem may be seen to overlap [[Jewish principles of faith#Nature of God|several others in Jewish Philosophy]].)