What is Freedom? - Bo 5786

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This week we read the Torah’s account of the Exodus from Egypt.  After Pharaoh’s refusal to “let My people go,” he finally succumbs and begs Moshe and Aharon to get them out as soon as possible.  The Jews were now free.  What does “free” mean? Free from slavery, yes.  Free from Egyptian captivity, yes. Free to do whatever they wanted?  Not exactly.  Everyone knows the phrase “let My people go,” but how many of us know the conclusion of that verse, “and they shall serve Me?”


As a matter of fact, one way to put it could be that Hashem switched one kind of servitude for another.  From the very beginning of the Exodus process, when Hashem appeared to Moshe in the Burning Bush on what would later be the site of the Giving of the Torah, Hashem said:  When you take the nation out of Egypt you will serve Me on this mountain (Sinai).  


There are a few words in Hebrew for “Free.”  “Chofshi” is generally translated as free from anything, without rules or controls.  “Chinam” means free of charge or without consequences or reason.  Cheirut is another word for freedom, and a free person is called a ben chorin (male) or bat chorin (female).  The Mishnah in Avot (6:2) states: There is no “ben chorin” - free individual, except for the one who is occupied with the Torah.


Now being occupied with Torah implies learning Torah, its laws and customs, and following them.  Is that really free?  For many this seems like a burden, forcing us to live a restrictive life, often not the way we would choose, left to our own devices.  Yet the Torah calls someone who accepts this lifestyle free, to the exclusion of others.


This is an intricate subject that requires many pages to address in depth.  Just one aspect that I want to focus on is our attitude.  We can think of a Torah life as a burden, or we can recognize it as Hashem’s desire to have a relationship with us.  It seems impossible for a physical human to have a relationship with the Divine.  What does that even mean?  A relationship is possible between two people, and even then they have to have something in common.  How can we have a relationship with Hashem?


Imagine Albert Einstein walking down the street with some of his students, discussing the deep secrets of science.  Coming in the other direction is Bob, an illiterate peasant who doesn't even know what science is.  He realizes that the man he is seeing is a great man, but there is no way the two can interact.  There is nothing that Bob can say to Einstein that will connect the two.  Now if Einstein asks Bob what time it is, suddenly there is an opportunity for the two to connect because Einstein wants something from Bob.


Bob is thrilled!  He can actually interact with the famous scientist.  This is something he couldn’t even dream was possible.  Now let’s say that Bob looks at his watch and starts telling Einstein what brand of watch it is and where he bought it.  Obviously the connection will not happen.  The only way for any relationship here is for Bob to seize the opportunity to fulfill the great scientist’s request.  Should Bob complain that Einstein is imposing rules on him and requiring he does things in a certain way?


When Hashem gives us Mitzvot, He is telling us that He wants to be close to us and gives us the opportunity to do this. We can in fact have a relationship to Hashem and be close to Him by doing a Mitzvah precisely the way it is taught in the Torah, written and oral.  This attitude is what inspired our forefathers leaving Egypt to look forward eagerly to arriving at Sinai and receiving the Torah.  So much so that they counted the days, purifying themselves along the way, in excited anticipation to becoming servants of Hashem.  To this day we remember and emulate that by Omer counting 49 days from Pesach to Shavuot.


The previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose yahrzeit will be this Wednesday, the tenth of Shevat, taught this analogy, and it was published in the book “Hayom Yom,” a daily spiritual thought, by the Rebbe, who accepted the leadership on the same day a year later.  There is nothing as liberating as connecting with our source of life and the Creator of everything.  Living a lifestyle that distances us from our source may feel free from obligation “chofshi,” but it is far from truly free.  It is a life subservient to our environment, to our habits, our ideas based on our limited knowledge, and whatever is currently popular.  


Our Rebbes, whose leadership and guidance we mark on the great day of 10 Shevat, showed us how to transform our purely physical existence to one of true meaning.  To use all our talents and abilities to fully express our souls.  And instead of following the tendencies that distance us from our inner core, to recognize who we really are and realize our full potential as servants of Hashem, free to express our inner essence and live our truth in real freedom.


You can learn more about the significance of the Tenth of Shevat here.

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