Wonderings 27 About Jewish/American Freedom?
I stopped writing the Wonderings for awhile for a few reasons, but I really appreciated the opportunity to hear what congregants think about specific topics, so I will try to pose more wonderings again. I have so many questions I would like to discuss with you that I could pose them every day, but will try to keep them to about once a week still. I would also like to hear which topics you would like me to "wonder about."
Recently I was asked to consider what Judaism teaches about Freedom, since we are celebrating the United States Independence Day - and one of the things that our independence signifies is freedom. The question was posed for the Red River Radio "About Faith" program. The answers will air 1pm this Sunday, July 3, 2022.
I realized that there are a few ways of thinking about freedom in Jewish tradition. There is the obvious one: we were slaves, and then we were free. To me that represents a freedom from oppression. There have been many times in Jewish history when we have been oppressed. We have the example of being freed from slavery to continue to give us hope when things are bad for us. I believe that the daily reminders (in prayers) in Jewish tradition that we were slaves also reminds us to treat other people with dignity.
The other kind of freedom in my opinion is the freedom to make choices. We are in covenant with G-d, which means that we have many Mitzvot - which are not just "good deeds" they are "commandments." I realized that each time we have an opportunity to do a Mitzvah, we have a choice. I feel that we currently have the freedom to make those choices - unlike during the periods of history when we were oppressed.
There are many things we can discuss about freedom today, but I will start with the wondering:
This week I am wondering: What do you think is the way Judaism understands "freedom?" How free do you feel? What are the benefits of being free? What are the obligations or consequences of being free?
May your Independence Day weekend be safe and enjoyable. May you find freedom in your own life. May our country be a source and protector of freedom.
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Responses:
I am not sure I will answer your questions directly but the initial thought I have is this:
Freedom is not a benign right. Those who believe that we are free as the natural order of things are sadly mistaken. Historically, humans have been and continue to be subjugated when they expect to be free. If we are not willing to struggle to be free-to FIGHT to be free, we will not be.
Our Jewish ancestors, in many cases, were unwilling to fight for that freedom and lived in abjectly disastrous circumstances. We celebrate the Maccabees and the state of Israel because they fought for freedom. I wonder if the world would look at Jews differently had we stood up to tyranny instead of roaming the world looking for a peaceful, accepting place.
Even today, I would ask: Are Jews in America willing to fight for their freedom? I’m not so sure. The weakness of our responses to antisemitic acts in America particularly on school campuses and in liberal enclaves gives me great pause.
I am law-abiding, but I am free because I choose to be. And I find the surety that I will push back against those who want to encroach on that freedom, is, in itself, freeing. [H]
Jews have a perspective from both sides of slavery. They were considered slaves in Egypt and were freed due to divine intervention. They also possessed slaves. Jews that were household slaves and non Jewish slaves either purchased or prisoners of war used for field labor. They both lived under a separate set of rules. By today's standard of course, this is not a good thing, but, that is the way it had to be then. People and animal power was the only way to get things done. As today, sometimes environmental conditions cause a situation called a famine that causes an entire population to move in order to try to survive by any means possible. The Jews were familiar with this situation. All their animals ended up being lost and they ended up being forced into slavery. My question is, would Judaism be without famine, and for that matter Christianity? [B]