Chasidut su Proverbi 14:34

Though I intend to elaborate on those in greater depth in the book, should God help and merit me to compose it, I will nonetheless briefly remark here, that as is written in the final chapter of Maimonides’ Eight Chapters—and as is cited in chapter 7 of this introduction—there are some Gentiles who say that humans are compelled and do not have freewill. This is because they sense in themselves that they are under compulsion, for “the kindness of the nations is sinful” [Proverbs 14:34]. The sages explain (Talmud Bava Batra 10b) that all good that they do is for their own benefit, like giving charity only for their own prestige. That is, since they have only an animalistic soul and nature, they are totally compelled so that even the good they do is for their own sake. If so, they have no originating freewill. Only Israel which has a holy soul above the animalistic soul and is not compelled by the latter—only Israel can compel the animalistic soul and has true freewill.³⁴⁰Such essentialist distinctions between Jew and Gentile are not rare in hasidic literature, including, prominently, in Tanya. See Biale et al, 30-32.

And behold, the ese three characteristics, that are bashful, merciful, and performers of kindness - we find their opposites in thise who are divided from the community of Israel. For the attribute of kindness is nonexistent in all other nations, as it is written "chesed to the nations is a sin" (Mishlei 14:34). And the attribute of mercifulness is not in the Giv'onim, who are the Netinim, who did not have mercy on the sons of Sha'ul. And the attribute of bashfulness is not found in mamzerim, as it is written "and a harlot's forehead" (Yirmiyahu 3:3). And it also says, "any arrogant priest is from these" [servants who assimilated into the priesthood] (Kiddushin 70b).