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In our Torah portion this week, the Israelites cross the Sea of Reeds after it parts, enabling them to cross on dry land. Once it collapses behind them, the people taste freedom for the first time, as our tradition states, in 400 years. It must have been an awesome experience, and it is a story that launched thousands of questions: what does God want of us? Why do we have freedom while others remained enslaved? Why did it take so long for God to hear the cries of the people? 
 
But it is this question that so inspires me: is it more important that they have freedom from…or that they have freedom to? 
 
Should the focus of our story remain on the past – we would argue that the key is what they were leaving behind. The people were free from slavery, from the harsh treatment of the Egyptians, from the confines of close quarters in a foreign land.
 
Yet it is focusing the story on the future – arguing that what we are free to do is the focus of the story – that the inspiration for our behavior shines through. Our ancestors were free to navigate their way through the desert…as we are free in our day to chart our own direction related to our professional journey, our journey with life partners, our journey to a city to build our lives. Our ancestors were free to worship God in a proper manner…and we are free in our day to explore what Judaism means to us, which traditions we find meaningful, and how we can make the most out of our Jewish faith and culture. 
 
And our ancestors were free to make an impact in the world…which is exactly what we will see at services this week. This week, our teens will be leading the Friday evening Shabbat service as they teach us about Camp Jenny, the mitzvah project in which teens open a camp for disadvantaged children on the grounds of Camp Coleman each year. The teens will then hold a spaghetti dinner aimed at raising funds to support Camp Jenny. To top it all off, there will be a silent auction of family-friendly gifts and experiences to help increase the fundraising component. It is inspiring indeed to see how our teens have accepted the gift of freedom and used it to make a difference in the lives of others.
 
So, too, may we exercise our freedom this weekend. We are free to choose where to be on Friday night…and I hope you choose to be at Sinai.

Click here to RSVP or make a contribution to support Camp Jenny.
 

Shabbat Shalom,
 
Brad