The rabbis took this notion of turning very seriously. It is central to their understanding of human free will. Because you have the power to turn, to perfect yourself, you are never simply a creature of habit. You choose how you act moment to moment. Indeed, according to the rabbis, the power to turn from evil preceded the very creation of the world. Before evil existed, God had already established the power to turn from it and do good.

Rami Shapiro, Minyan