Shabat Bechukotai

Written by Michael Gluckman Thursday, 25 May 2006

Shabbat Bechukotai
Reflections

Pesach is beginning to be a distant memory as Shavuot rapidly approaches. We commemorated our freedom from slavery and were enjoined to regard ourselves as if we had been slaves. Living in maybe the era of greatest freedom for the Jewish people it is interesting to ponder what that concept means.

What does it mean to have freedom? On a pure basic level it can mean the ability to come and go as we please. But beyond this simple physicality we are often not free because we are bound by responsibilities. As children/ teenagers we may feel responsible to fulfil the potential that is expected by our parents and teachers. As we mature we are responsible to friends, partners and children as well as work colleagues. Therefore freedom cannot imply that you should do whatever you want. That would destroy society. People, even in a so-called free society, have responsibilities. This is different from authority, which implies a one-way process. Responsibility in society is a two way process.

In Sidrah Behar we read the phrase immortalised on the liberty Bell in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, USA – “You shall proclaim freedom [Dror] throughout the land for all the inhabitants”. [Lev 25:10] Rashi quotes Rabbi Yehuda’s question “What is meant by Dror” (as it is the only such usage in Torah) in effect asking how does it imply freedom.

The explanation given is that it means, “One who lives wherever they pleases and is not under the authority of others”.

So the question is still on the table – what does it mean to have freedom. Many of us would cite the need to be free of injustice, ill health and financial worries as important facets of feeling free. Indeed seminal research on work satisfaction levels cite these as minimum requirements for workers but has also demonstrated that responsibility for our work is also key to being happy at work. Thus back to Rashi’s comment that freedom is a combination of living where you want and not being under authority. It doesn’t say that freedom is absence of responsibility. What it does underline is freedom from authority of people.

As Shavuot we celebrate the completion of the Exodus begun at Pesach. That is why we link the two by counting the Omer. Physical freedom without responsibility is not freedom. But there is only one authority to Whom we are subject and that is God. Authority of individuals will always be flawed, as it is purely subjective. Only through the authority of the Mitzvot, which construct a just society where all are respected and valued, are we truly free. That is the type of freedom that is referred to here and proclaimed by our prophets and teachers throughout the generations.

Michael Gluckman