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The Progression Toward

True Freedom

Rabbi Reuven
Taragin

Pillars of faith surroundings and redeemed us from important freedom facilitator because
servitude to them. At Matan Torah, Torah learning helps us transcend
n contrast to Sukkot, Hashem eternalized our relationship our mundane world and connect to
which commemorates a with Him by teaching us how to serve Hashem’s mode of thinking.
forty-year period of living in Him. When we left Mitzrayim, we knew
I sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot only what we were leaving behind. Chazal expressed this idea through
commemorate events that occurred Matan Torah gave us our identity as a their famous dictum that only one
at particular moments in time. The holy nation. involved in Torah study is a “ben chorin”
two events that these two chagim (Avot 6:2). Involvement in Torah is not
commemorate – Yetziat Mitzrayim and True freedom merely one form of freedom; it is the
Matan Torah – are the historical pillars As opposed to the word chofshi, only form! Though those involved
of Jewish faith. In Mitzrayim, Hashem which the Torah uses to refer to a in other pursuits may feel free, in
revealed His strength and providence, slave’s emancipation (Shemot 21:2–5, actuality they are not.
while at Sinai, He spoke to us directly Devarim 15:12–18), Chazal use the word This message is especially relevant in
in an awesome revelation. In Sefer cherut to describe Jewish freedom, a our times. The Industrial Revolution
Devarim, Moshe cites both events as word connoting something loftier and technological advances shortened
the basis for our belief in Hashem as than mere emancipation. the amount of time needed to complete
the only G-d (Devarim 4:32–39). the tasks necessary to sustain life,
People associate freedom with lack of
The Torah commands grandparents to commitment and responsibility, the while electricity, by lighting up the
share the significance of these events freedom to do whatever we want to night, has extended the amount of
with their grandchildren (Shemot 10:2, do. Linking Pesach to Shavuot teaches time we can use effectively. Together,
Devarim 4:9–10), for these seminal us that true freedom is a two-step these advancements have given us
events are more than just history. We, process: first we must free ourselves unprecedented amounts of free time.
and all generations, are meant to see
Scan here to from subjugation to society’s values How do we spend the additional
join Rabbi ourselves as having experienced each and our baser instincts and then we time we now have available? Sadly,
Taragin’s of them personally. On Seder night, must commit ourselves to living a holy most people waste much of this time
daily Divrei we are commanded to feel like we life. Avodat Hashem is true freedom on various forms of entertainment.
Torah ourselves are being redeemed from because it enables us to live the way Most people spend their free time
WhatsApp Mitzrayim. Similarly, the Zohar teaches we are meant to (Akeidat Yitzchak, involved in activities that do not
group that all Jewish souls were present at Devarim 26:1). enrich themselves or impact their
Matan Torah (Part 2, 83b). The strength surroundings in any meaningful way.
of our faith hinges on our ability to In his famous State of the Union As Jews, we are fortunate to know
Address about the four basic freedoms
personally connect to each of these how we should spend our time: in
events. humanity deserves, Franklin D.
Roosevelt defined freedom as freedom Torah study! While mitzvot and good
Linking Pesach to Shavuot from others. Cherut, however, is true deeds depend on the situation we are
freedom: the freedom to live our lives in, Torah is always available for us to
Pesach and Shavuot are also linked learn.
through the mitzvah of sefirat ha’omer. properly. That is what philosopher
John Locke meant when he contrasted
The Sefer HaChinuch explains that the liberty, the freedom to do what we As we enter Shavuot, may we remem-
reason we count the omer is to help us ought, with license, the freedom to do ber the true meaning of freedom and
realize that Yetziat Mitzrayim was just what we want. strengthen our commitment to both
the beginning of the process meant to Torah observance and Torah learning.
A member of be completed by Matan Torah. Cherut as Torah learning Chag Sameach!
the Mizrachi
Speakers Bureau Yetziat Mitzrayim was the beginning of Freedom depends not only on Torah Rabbi Reuven Taragin is Educational Director
mizrachi.org/ our national relationship with Hashem observance, but also on Torah of Mizrachi and Dean of the Yeshivat Hakotel
speakers in which He distinguished us from our learning. “Involvement” in Torah is an Overseas Program.

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