Freedom

Values

Freedom is a concept prevalent throughout Jewish texts. The term is often associated with the biblical story of the Exodus, in which the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt, as well as with the ability to perform good deeds and make positive choices.

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Release from Indentured Servitude

TANAKH

The Bible describes a type of indentured servant who has the option to leave in their seventh year of service. The Book of Exodus details this process, and what it means for a person who does not go free at that point.

But if the slave declares, “I love my master, and my wife and children: I do not wish to go free,” his master shall take him before God. He shall be brought to the door or the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall then remain his master’s slave for life.

Exodus 21:5-6

At the Mouth of Freedom

COMMENTARY

The people of Israel gained their freedom during the exodus from Egypt. The medieval commentator, Rashi (11th century, France), reads the biblical verses carefully to identify the exact place where they became free.

ויחנו לפני פי החירת AND ENCAMP BEFORE PI-HAHIROTH — This is identical with Pithom (Mekhilta), but now it obtained the name of פי החירת, because there they became בני חורין free-men (חירת is explained as חרות freedom). This was two high, precipitous rocks and the valley between them was called פי הסלעים the mouth (opening) of the rocks.

Rashi on Exodus 14:2:2

The Promise of Spiritual Redemption

COMMENTARY

According to kabbalistic tradition, Passover is an annual opportunity to get rid of negative spiritual influences. Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar (18th century, Morocco) explores the idea of shedding negativity in his biblical commentary.

א־ל מוציאם ממצרים, "G'd who has brought them out of Egypt, etc." Although the Talmud Berachot 38 understands the word מוציא as if it were in the past tense [in connection with the benediction we pronounce before eating bread, Ed.], the fact is that Bileam used the present tense rather than the past tense about G'd orchestrating the Exodus. Why did he do this? Perhaps we can best explain this in light of the statement in Pessachim 116 that every Jew throughout the ages must bring himself to feel that he himself took part in the Exodus of our…

Or HaChaim on Numbers 23:22:1

Freedom Across Contexts

MIDRASH

Freedom can take many different forms, just as oppression can be different depending on the context. Shemot Rabbah, a medieval book of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, explores several types of freedom in this commentary about the tablets given at Mount Sinai.

“The tablets were the work of God and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets” (Exodus 32:16).
“The tablets were the work of God.” Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Each and every day, a Divine Voice emerges from Mount Ḥorev and proclaims: ‘Woe unto the creations for the affront to the Torah, as anyone who does not regularly engage in the Torah is ostracized from before the Holy One blessed be He,’ as it is stated: “The tablets were the work of God.”
“Engraved [ḥarut] on the tablets…

Shemot Rabbah 41:7

Freedom and Obligation

TALMUD

How does freedom affect one’s ability to observe commandments? In this selection from the Babylonian Talmud, the rabbis consider whether and when a slave can count as part of a quorum for prayer.

On the subject of completing a zimmun, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Nine Jews and a slave join together to form a zimmun of ten. The Gemara raises an objection: There was an incident involving Rabbi Eliezer, who entered a synagogue and did not find a quorum of ten, and he liberated his slave and he completed the quorum of ten. From this we may infer that if he freed his slave, yes, he may join the quorum of ten, but if he did not free him, no, he may not join the quorum of ten…

Berakhot 47b:16

Growing Towards Freedom

JEWISH THOUGHT

Are the commandments in the Torah just another type of servitude? Philosopher and poet Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi (11th century, Spain) in his philosophical treatise, the Kuzari, frames them as an expression of freedom.

25. The Rabbi: I only seek freedom from the service of those numerous people whose favour I do not care for, and shall never obtain, though I worked for it all my life. Even if I could obtain it, it would not profit me--I mean serving men and courting their favour. I would rather seek the service of the One whose favour is obtained with the smallest effort, yet it profits in this world and the next. This is the favour of God, His service spells freedom, and humility before Him is true honour.

Kuzari 5:25

Freedom as Identity

LITURGY

Freedom is so central to Jewish identity that the traditional Jewish liturgy includes a daily acknowledgement of this gift. The blessings at the beginning of the morning prayers give thanks for this aspect of life.

Blessed are You, Hashem, King of the Universe, Who did not make me a slave. (A woman says: maid-servant)...

Siddur Edot HaMizrach, Preparatory Prayers, Morning Blessings 21

Messianic Redemption

COMMENTARY

Physical and spiritual freedom is a symbol of messianic redemption. The Ben Yehoyada, a commentary on the Babylonian Talmud written by the Ben Ish Chai (19th century, Baghdad) uses a kabbalistic lens to explain the relationship between freedom and the messianic era.

And that which will be played in the days of the Messiah, "eight" (Psalms 12:1; Psalms 16:11): With God's help, it appears to me that the reason is that after the arrival of the messiah, the fifty gates of understanding (binah) will be lit, which is the fullness of freedom, and there will be freedom from the angel of death and freedom from the subjugation of the [other nations]. And binah is the eighth sefirah. That is why the harp will have eight strings, as a hint to 'understanding…

Ben Yehoyada on Arakhin 13b:2

Freedom at the Seder

TALMUD

Appreciating freedom is a theme of the Passover seder. This passage from the Babylonian Talmud uses an anecdote to highlight this essential message.

Rav Naḥman said to his servant, Daru: With regard to a slave who is freed by his master, who gives him gold and silver, what should the slave say to him? Daru said to him: He must thank and praise his master. He said to him: If so, you have exempted us from reciting the questions of: Why is this night different, as you have stated the essence of the seder night. Rav Naḥman immediately began to recite: We were slaves.

Pesachim 116a:12

"Proclaim Liberty Throughout all the Land..."

TANAKH

Every fiftieth year is considered by the Torah to be a year when lands return to their original owners and indentured servants are set free. This passage from the Book of Leviticus explains the practice of the Jubilee year.

and you shall hallow the fiftieth year. You shall proclaim release throughout the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: each of you shall return to your holding and each of you shall return to your family.

Leviticus 25:10

Relatedראו גם

The Exodus from Egypt

Free Will

Sheetsדפי מקורות

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