Behar 5774
On the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia are inscribed these words from our parasha, Behar : "You shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all of the inhabitants." (Leviticus 25:10)While early Americans may have regarded themselves as the spiritual descendants of the Israelites their concept of liberty was different from that of Jewish tradition.
In America liberty means the individual is sovereign and autonomous so long as the rightsof others do not suffer.
But in its Biblical context this verse refers to restoring equality between people - in particular the indentured slave or servant. No more subjugation even of those who willingly sold themselves into servitude.
In actuality we are free to live our lives as we wish with certain caveats which means we are not completely free. Or as Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson writes:
"No society is completely free. Our dual birthright - as Jews and as Americans - encourages us to struggle to increase our freedoms so that a previous generation's aspirations advanced the next generation׳s rights."The American call for liberty and the Biblical call for liberty complement each other and help us to chart the path of tikkun olam (perfecting God's world) as Jews and as Americans.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Matt Futterman
Senior Educator
