Page 34 - HaMizrachi #28 Pesach USA 2021

The freedom we experienced at the
Exodus becomes truly whole when we
accept the Torah:
We get a free society when each one
of us says, it’s up to me. We have to do
this, and only we can do it, together.
That is the responsible society G-d
asked us to make, that’s why He led us
through Egypt and all its suffering, so
that we should long for freedom but
understand that this is a responsible
freedom, a freedom we have to make
together. That is what makes the
world’s strongest free societies, and
that is the eternal message of Pesach.
Friends, I think it’s an important mes-
sage… G-d is calling on us to exercise
responsibility by creating free soci-
eties, by righting wrongs, healing
disease, righting injustices, fighting
against poverty and ignorance, and
all the other bad things that happen…
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt”l: On Seder Night, all our focus and all So yes, we celebrate Pesach and we
From Freedom to our thanks are to G-d. But once that thank G-d for the miracles of Jewish
Responsibility, 5773 (2013) is over, the second we begin sefirat history from that day to this, because
haOmer and the long journey to
n a drasha given before Pesach in accepting the law on Mt. Sinai, we we have lived through the third great
2013, Rabbi Sacks called upon his realize we have to become G-d’s part- exodus of Jewish history. First from
Ilisteners to heed the call of Pesach ners. We can’t leave it all to Him. Egypt, second from Babylon, third
by taking responsibility for our actions from all the lands of our dispersion. In
in order to build a better society. The journey from Pesach, when we some ways, the exodus we have lived
were passive receivers of G-d’s miracles, through is the greatest of them all.
The whole story of yetziat Mitzrayim, immediately into counting the Omer
that long journey that begins on and Shavuot, teaches us to become But now comes the challenge.
Pesach and ends on Shavuot, and of active partners in G-d’s world, by cre-
which we count the days between, is a ating a more wholesome society through Can we respond to G-d’s call to create
journey from simple freedom, which the Torah’s laws. freedom, not wait for Him to do it for
means taking people out of a country us? To hew the tablets upon which
or changing the form of government, G-d is calling on us to be responsi- He will write His words? To build
to the really difficult form of freedom ble human beings, restraining our the Mishkan so that His presence
– law-governed liberty, when we obey liberty for the sake of other people’s can fill our lives? Friends, that is the
the law because we understand it and liberty, giving a little of what we have challenge of Pesach. The challenge of
because we are responsible citizens, to others who have less, building a Jewish life today.
responding to G-d’s call. compassionate social just order that
honors human dignity and the sanc- The message of Pesach does not end on
If that is the case, the story of Shemot tity of human life… Seder Night. It is the journey afterward,
is a challenge to our responsibility, to Mt. Sinai, that teaches us how to uti-
and the story we tell on Seder Night What does true freedom mean? Freedom lize our newfound freedom by becoming
is only the beginning of the story. comes hand in hand with responsibility. partners with G-d.

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