Before we moved to Folsom, I flew out here to visit the area and determine if I felt it would be a good place to establish a Chabad House. When the plane landed, close to midnight California time, I turned on my phone and proceeded to text my wife, Goldie, that I had landed and everything was fine. The guy sitting next to me sneered, “She’s got quite a long leash, doesn’t she?” he said, somewhat disdainfully. I didn’t understand what he meant at first, but he continued, “It’s 3 in the morning back in New York but you still have to text your wife. But me, I’m here and no one in the world could care - I’m completely free!” I looked at him and shrugged, it didn’t bother me to “have” to text my wife. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I’m actually happy to “have” to text my wife. There are many responsibilities that comes with marriage and raising a family, many experiences and opportunities that have to be passed up due to being at my stage in life. But I’m not upset about it, I’m actually quite happy about it. Marriage certainly comes with limitations on one’s “freedom”; but it comes with an amazing benefit too: The fact that I’m a central part of someone else’s life. That I’m so important to them that they’re willing to limit their personal “freedom” for me. Being that needed and so central to someone else’s life gives me a deep satisfaction and happiness that the limits on my “freedom” are absolutely worth the trade off. Similarly, Torah observance definitely limits one's “freedom” - an observant Jew can’t eat anything they wish and can’t do anything they wish at any time they wish, there is Shabbat and other considerations. Why then do we celebrate the fact that G-d gave us the Torah, why are we happy with the limitations on our autonomy - shouldn’t we resent it? When G-d gave us the Torah and commanded us to observe the Mitzvot, not as optional suggestions but as binding obligations, He was telling us something profound. G-d was essentially telling each of us, “Your life matters, how you live your life matters. Without you, the entire universe is not complete without your contribution.” Now that’s something worth celebrating. And that’s something that causes me to embrace and celebrate the perceived limitations on my freedom. I say “perceived” because on a deeper level, observance of Mitzvot brings the ultimate freedom possible - and the deepest connection possible - with our soul, our true core self. We'll have to discuss that idea in more detail some other time.
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