
There is a sense that people associate freedom with unrestrained behavior, no circumscription of behavior, thoughts, or emotions.
There is a societal zeitgeist of refusing to yield to higher authority.
There is a desire for individuality, not the supposed conformity associated with religion or moral standards. It is the upending of standards--moral, religious, cultural, and the disdaining of those in authority--those who possess authority conferred by wisdom and experience, that characterize our age of "enlightenment," a time of seemingly unconstrained human invention, achievement and emphasis on self-reliance.
This philosophy has insidiously extended beyond and has permeated our community and consciousness. However, this societal definition of freedom is a misconception, a misconstruing of reality. It is paradoxically, our observance and obedience to God's statutes that is genuine freedom.
How could this be? How could subservience to God be a sublime expression of freedom if we are yielding our will to a higher power? My Rabbi explained that to understand this phenomenon we have to admit that ultimately, despite the vocal denial by some, we will be subservient to something or someone.
Think of addiction. In the disease of addiction a person is yielding his freedom, his will, to his overwhelming cravings, passions, and desires. This occurs whether the person craves drugs, food, honor, or perfection, etc. Some people are dominated by their job or responsibilities. In short, every personality trait or endeavor that is not tempered has the potential capacity to dominate and overwhelm a person and render him/her a slave.
Careful and deliberate observance of Judaism is radically different. The Torah reflects the perfect combination of personality traits and proper behavior that ultimately reflect the objectives that we genuinely yearn for. Therefore, subjecting ourselves to the authority of the Torah is a means; a means that we really do want but simply need authoritative guidance to reach to achieve the end of spiritual and physical perfection. Thus acts and behaviors which are proscribed by the Torah are acts and behaviors we really want to avoid. Therefore, the true definition of freedom is the adoption of attitudes and construction of environments that are conducive to our ability to achieve what we genuinely want.
The acceptance of the yoke of the Torah accomplishes this objective. The guidelines of the Torah and our desires are seeking the same destination, and it is by the rules and regulations of the former that will tame the unruly passions of the latter. May we follow the Torah and recognize that our will and the will of the Torah do not clash but rather complement and enhance each other!
Chag Sameach, חַג שָׂמֵחַ,