Freedom is in the air. Following weeks of focused preparation, we will soon gather in our homes and synagogues, in observance of Pesach, the festival of our freedom. Our annual celebration of yetzias mitzraim reminds us to recognize and cherish our gift of eternal freedom, cheirus olam. Although 3300+ years have passed since the Exodus, there is still plenty of freedom for us to celebrate; arguably, more than ever before. We enjoy unprecedented religious freedom and economic opportunity, both of which have enabled the exponential growth of our communal infrastructure. Profound advancements in technology allow us to communicate freely with family and friends all over the world. Global (and even local) travel has never been easier and there are very few barriers, if any, between us and anyone with whom we are seeking to connect. And so yes, it would seem that we have never been freer than we are today.
Remarkably however, there do appear to be several indications that our path towards absolute and demonstrable freedom may be partially obstructed. Does modern man truly possess the freedom to exist, live and choose voluntarily? If that were indeed the case, then we would likely observe widespread contentment and happiness. Genuine freedom would allow individuals and families to demonstrate passion and commitment to the preservation of their values and achievement of their goals. If we were truly free, we would constantly ascend to new heights of self-awareness and achieve new levels of self-control. Yet, numerous studies (do we really need data anyway?), indicate that in all these categories, we were once better off than we are today.
Why is that so? Shouldn’t our freedom to live, to be, and to choose, enable us to experience true happiness, commitment, satisfaction, and fulfillment? Why do our lives, so suffused with freedom, appear to leave us with the constant nagging feeling that there is so much more to be desired?
There are undoubtedly many different paths to explore if we are to properly address these questions. For the moment though, it may be helpful to consider the inherent value in simply asking ourselves these questions, even without pressing forward, in search of specific answers. Honest and critical examination of the widely held assumption that we do, in fact, choose purposely and freely, may allow us to discover much about ourselves and the real driving forces in our life. And we should not stop there. Rather, in the spirit of the Pesach experience, let us share these questions with others and discuss them with the members of our family. Perhaps consider these additional challenges, in an effort to achieve deeper insight and greater perspective regarding our personal freedom:
- How often do I feel that I can express myself freely and speak genuinely?
- How often am I able to secure the time to devote to the things that I truly want to accomplish?
- How often do I say, “I can’t because I’m too busy” or “I just wish I had more time”?
- To what extent does technology enable me to achieve more of my life’s goals? In what ways does technology interfere and, at times, obstruct these efforts?
- Do the conveniences and efficiencies of technology enable me to better manage my time and discover new opportunities for growth?
- Do the marvels of modern communication enable me to achieve greater satisfaction and fulfillment in my relationships?
If you are like me, confronting these questions generates a degree of inner discomfort. We are faced with the realization that although modern man has succeeded in achieving unimagined feats and accomplishments, our existence, in many ways, seems quite confined and our choices seem remarkably limited. Our freedom, while ours to be claimed, seems forever elusive, evading actualization.
And so, as we celebrate zman cheiruseinu, the festival of our freedom, let us challenge ourselves with the following question: do I truly possess freedom of will or do I simply carry the will to be free? Only after we have asked ourselves this question, may we begin our journey in search of answers.
To Whom It May Concern 