Thoughts on Pesach 5785
[maxbutton id=”6″ url=”https://polishjewsreviving.org/pokonywanie-przeszkod-duchowych/” ] There are different types of freedom: freedom of speech, freedom of belief, freedom of movement, economic freedom etc. There are at least 40 of them. On a more general, philosophical level, we divide freedom into freedom from and freedom to. ‘Freedom from’ entails the right to be free from interference or domination, and focuses on protection of our innate rights and emotional safety. It lays the groundwork of a society where citizens can live without fear of oppression and can thrive as a community. “Freedom to”, generally speaking, refers to the liberty to conduct desired actions without restriction. It is the capacity to make choices that are yours alone, independent of external influences or pressures. The borders of all kinds of freedoms are defined by law, freedoms of different individuals and entities in the society, as well as the means one has in his or her possession.
Among all these freedoms we have two kinds I would like to focus on today: political freedom and spiritual freedom. Political freedom refers to the social and cultural reality around us; spiritual freedom concerns the inner reality within us. There is a passage in Talmud (Pesachim 116a) that refers to our tradition of children asking 4 questions during Pesach seder. This passage also defines what it is to answer, or – in general – to tell any story “the Jewish way”:
It was taught in the Mishnah that the father begins his answer with disgrace and concludes with glory. The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of the term: With disgrace? Rav said that one should begin by saying: At first our forefathers were idol worshippers, before concluding with words of glory. And Shmuel said: The disgrace with which one should begin his answer is: We were slaves. (Pesachim 116a)
The debate between these two rabbis looks typical: they just have different opinions which is something absolutely normal in our tradition. Nevertheless, the consequences of these answers are profound: they determine not only the meaning of the ‘point of departure’ – slavery or idol worship – but also the point of arrival – political and/or spiritual freedom. According to Shmuel’s answer, what we celebrate during Pesach is liberation from systemic, political bondage. Once we are liberated from it we become free people. According to Rav’s answer, observing Pesach is about liberation from idolatry and this answer touches the issue of human freedom on a much deeper level. Rav’s answer includes both political and spiritual liberation, making at the same time a statement that political liberation – liberation from physical slavery – does not suffice to become truly free people. Political freedom is important, it’s an emblematic case of the “freedom from” and, to use the language of logic, a necessary condition for all other freedoms. But only liberation from idolatry (including its modern forms like power or money worship) and adoption of monotheism can make us truly free people.
Political freedom sets the framework for the spiritual one. The essence of spiritual freedom lies in both independence from our own flaws, shortcomings, habits, ego and self-interest as well as in the ability to grow morally, intellectually and culturally. Once we obtain this ability, we obtain true freedom. True freedom means taking responsibility for how we move through the world. The way we treat other people matters here a lot. A kind word or a bit of patience can lift someone more than we know. And the opposite is just as true—being rude, harsh, or indifferent can really hurt someone. We don’t always know what people are carrying, or how much our words might weigh on them.
Out of self interest we can always be nice just because we’re worried about the consequences. After watching The Sopranos and driving on the 405, I’ve definitely thought twice about honking when someone cuts me off. But that’s not kindness. That’s fear. It’s about doing the right thing because we’re scared of the alternative. And I’m also not saying we should be kind just because we want something in return, like to impress the boss or look good to others—that’s performative kindness. The freedom I’m talking about is the freedom to choose kindness and decency, not about avoiding trouble or trying to get ahead. It’s about choosing the kind of person you want to be, even when no one’s watching and no one’s judging and no one is gonna break your kneecaps.
This Pesach, let’s remember: we were freed not just to escape the oppression of the past, but also to shape a better future for you and for those around you. We were given the power to choose—and how we use that power, every day, in every interaction, is part of what it means to truly be free and to elevate the world we live in, both spiritually and materially.
Shabbat shalom,
Chag Pesach Sameach!
Rabbi Mirski
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