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To be more clear on the part about the Shoah, could it be that the Nazis and others made their own evil decisions? They exhibited emotion with little intellect in order to murder and intellect with little emotion to rationalize their horrible deeds in wordy documents.

But then I’m still very new to study of the Oral. How much slack are we (all) given to decide as to what right or wrong thing we’re going to do next?

I think you're overrationalizing, trying to understand something that is simply beyond human comprehension. Just know that you have free will and G-d will judge us by our deeds, while it is simultaneously true that absolutely everything is guided by G-d's Providence.

Try to look at it this way: when it comes to you, you have absolute freedom in how you will react to and treat others, and the others are mere "automotons" whose every word and deed is programmed to test you. However--every other human being you come in contact with is absolutely free react to or treat you in any way while you are an automoton programmed to test them.

Each and every one of us has absolute freedom, yet we can do nothing that is not provided for by Divine Providence and that is a test for everyone who has to deal with us.

Please don't even try to understand this. We are dealing with Omnipotence here. This is so far beyond our understanding that I don't even understand the need to understand it. I just accept it.

Hope this helps.

"Please don't even try to understand this. We are dealing with Omnipotence here. This is so far beyond our understanding that I don't even understand the need to understand it. I just accept it."

...agreed that it's far beyond our understanding. I've joined a cabal as an alien and still don't understand. [Little humor in choice of words and sincerity in statement for you there.]