Pesach & The Joy of Freedom

How does it feel to be a slave? Every waking moment you must think about the needs of your master. If you want to go to a family event? out of town? a work meeting? You have to make sure these things are convenient for your master. You must be ready to serve your master at any moment, even if it is the middle of the night, or during an important project at work, or during your child's birthday, You must drop everything at a moment's notice to serve your master immediately. 

There is absolutely nothing more important than serving your master. Not your family, your friends, your job, even your life. 

If your master desires it, you will break the law for him. 

If your master desires it you will lie for him. 

If your master desires, it you will steal for him. 

If he desires you will sell your body for him.

When you are a slave, your hopes, dreams and desires are meaningless, you live only to serve your master. 

Although we are commanded to commemorate the exodus with the holiday of Pesach, we are actually commanded to remember it every day. Our Tzitzit and Tefilin is a reminder of it, we remember it when we recite the Shema. Why? 

We Jews have been (relatively) free for over three thousand years. However, any blessing, no matter how great, eventually you become accustomed to it. When you become accustomed to something, you are likely to become ungrateful for it. When you become ungrateful for something you are likely not to value it. When you do not value something you are likely to loose it. 

This is what happens to so many Jews today. When I was addicted to drugs I was just as much of a slave as my ancestors were in Mitzrayim. Except worse then them, I was not born into slavery,  I sought it out and chose it. It was a Mitzrayim of my own making. Look around you will see so many others in the same situation. People building their own prisons through addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex/pornography, work, technology/internet. 

The children of Israel came to Egypt to escape the pain of famine. To them it seemed too good to be true. All of their material needs would be taken care of, they did not see that it was really a trap and that eventually the easy life they thought they were going to get would turn into a life of toil and slavery. 

It was the same to me, when I first found drugs I thought I had found an easier way of life. I felt as though it had solved all my problems. I didn't realize that I was really becoming enslaved. That I would have to sacrifice everything to my new slave master. He would never relent, demanding constantly more work and sacrifice to serve him until eventually it killed me.

Even though as a secular Jew I celebrated Passover many times, I never appreciated it until I got into recovery. This is because I never saw the true meaning of it. I never valued the incredible gift of freedom HASHEM had granted me. I did not appreciate it so I gave it away. 

Many places in the Torah HASHEM reminds us that it was He who took us out of the house of bondage in Egypt. Why? In the grand scheme of things it seems like a rather small miracle. Wouldn't it make more sense to say "I am HASHEM, your G-d who created the heavens and earth", or "I am HASHEM your G-d who gives life to all things", or "I am HASHEM your G-d who controls the entire universe".

I believe we are reminded so much about the miracle of the exodus specifically because it reminds us that HASHEM is the only one who can take us out of bondage. That any time we want we can turn to Him and he has the power to grant us freedom, this most precious gift.

If you are in recovery, this is a great time of year for strengthening your program. Pharaoh can come in many forms, a pill, a needle, a pipe, a bottle, a computer, a smart phone...but remember HASHEM made you so that He is the only one you answer to. That you should not ever have to serve anyone or anything but Him. At all times He has the power to free you, if you turn to him.

Chag Sameach 

For some chizzuk, read this essay by Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski.