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Freedom is a Chance to Do Better

04/01/2021 02:09:45 PM

Apr1

Rabbi Sam Trief

After the year that we have endured, after the Seders of freedom we have just celebrated, how can we not view freedom through a different lens? The famous French Philosopher, Albert Camus teaches us: "Freedom is a chance to do better." As new opportunities arise and as narrow straits open into wide expanses, each of us can ask ourselves how we can do better. What does FREEDOM mean to each of us? 

As for me, I began thinking about freedom differently after a recent study session through “The Institute For Experiential Jewish Education”, where we learned that “freedom is learning how to quiet our anxiety and master our minds.” In the lesson we studied a text by Victor Frankl, renowned psychologist, Holocaust survivor, and author of the powerful book Man’s Search for Meaning. He taught: “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”  

Regardless of uncertainties or troubles, we have the choice to fill our heads with hopeful thoughts. We can choose to focus on what we have, or we can choose to give attention to what we lack. This is the reason I have two Hebrew words hanging behind my Zoom screen as a constant reminder: the words שפע/Abundance and שמחה/Joy teach me to always internalize gratitude and goodness. As a dear friend recovered from heart surgery over the past two weeks, through her emails and inspirational reminders, she taught us all that we can wake up each morning and say Modeh Ani. As she does, we can count our blessings, or we can do the opposite. 

By no means do I intend to downplay the very real problems many of us confront each day. Real pain exists and we need not avert our gaze and pretend it does not. And yet, the lessons of Passover teach me that we always have the power to lean into and embrace freedom. That is the ultimate expression of this zman heruteinu - the season of our freedom, in which we now find ourselves.  

One way to help encourage this process of gratitude and freedom is to count the Omer each day, marking the journey from the physical freedom of Passover to the spiritual freedom 7 weeks from now during Shavuot. Check out this amazing resource here. Together we move ourselves from bondage and baggage to freedom and fortitude. From Egypt to Mount Sinai.

Shabbat Shalom! 

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784