Passover and Freedom

The holiday of Passover is often described as the holiday of Freedom.

In the western world, freedom is often defined as the ability to do whatever you like whenever you like, without some oppressive authority telling you what to do. But that’s not how Judaism defines freedom.

G-d did not take us out of Egypt so that we could party in the desert. We were taken out of Egypt (notice I said we, not our ancient ancestors) in order that we would be able to stand at Mount Sinai and receive the Torah.

The Torah’s definition of freedom is best described by the famous Talmudic verse “Praised be the servant of G-d who is not the servant of Pharaoh.” Some would describe this situation as freedom being a means to and end, I would take a different position.

I would say that liberation from Egypt is a means to an end, but freedom IS receiving the Torah. That is, we were not truly free until we received the Torah.

If we view elections held in countries ruled by dictators, we see all the elements of free elections; voting booths, secret ballots. But if there is only one name on the ballot, the election is not truly free. Most would agree that choice is a requirement for freedom, but I would say that freedom IS choice.

Before the Torah, we were slaves to our instinct; our only real option was to respond to a situation based on instinct. With the giving of the Torah, we were giving another option, instead of choosing instinct; we can choose the moral path given in the Torah. We now have a choice. Respond to an insult with an even more lethal barb, or respond with kindness. Gossip, or don’t. Keep kosher, or don’t.

The 613 mitzvot are not restrictions on our freedom. They provide us with choice, thus they are our freedom.