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In the previous Torah portion, God gave the Jews the Ten Commandments. And in this portion, the very next commandment God gives the Jewish people is:
"If you buy a Jewish bondsman, he shall work for six years; and in the seventh he shall go free..."
Exodus 21:2)
A LIFE LESSON
God instructs every Jew that if he has a Jewish slave working for him, then after six years he is to be set free. On the surface, it seems like when the seventh year arrives the slave would eagerly, happily, and enthusiastically run from his master's house into his new found freedom. But this just isn't how a slave feels. The reason for this is that the longer a person is under the "rule" of someone or something else, the less belief he has that he can actually make it on his own.
One of the most debilitating aspects of any form of enslavement is that it robs a person of his self-worth and self-confidence. He becomes enslaved physically, emotionally and mentally. But the fact the God commands the slave to be set free in the seventh year demonstrates an incredible and powerful seed that God plants within all of us. And that is knowing, without question, that we all have the ability to make it on our own without this master.
Whether you realize it or not, each and everyone of us are enslaved to someone or to something. Whether it's continuing to stay in at a job we dislike, in a relationship that's unhealthy, engage in destructive behaviors, or need to watch hours of television in order to escape the thoughts of the day - we all choose to be slaves.
While no one wants to be controlled, this enslavement is far better than we fear what will become of us if we chose to leave. The bottom line is that within all of us is a powerful and driving belief that questions if we really can make it on our own without this master. And although the enslavement is hard, frustrating, and painful, we don't leave because we doubt our ability to make it in un-chartered waters.
But the exact opposite is true. Whatever unhealthy situation controls a part of your life and keeps you from blossoming and becoming great, then also know that you can walk away and make it without this master. And when you do muster the strength to leave and fight the inner voice that questions your ability to succeed, then the battle is 99% won. Because when you commit to being free, you just have to hand the ball over to God and He will give you everything you need to make it.
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(16) Anonymous, February 22, 2017 11:15 AM
Amen! Excellent article and very well written! Thanks for posting!
(15) Anonymous, February 2, 2016 1:03 PM
Great article! Thanks for posting!
(14) adira, February 1, 2016 5:37 AM
fantastic
This was wholly enlightening. We must break off the shackles throw off the dust and arise. We have self worth and we must do what we can to encourage Torah observance
(13) jay, February 9, 2013 1:51 PM
Thanks
This commentary speaks to me because I am on the cusp of going ahead. I'm 65 years old but in reality the same fears are there that younger people have. Rejection etc. I put my faith in myself but more importantly, much more, in G-d's hands.
JAY, February 14, 2015 12:27 AM
ALSO
IM WICE YOUR AGE BUT IN A SIMILAR POSITION...THIS IS A GREAT ARTICLE
(12) Anonymous, February 3, 2013 12:13 PM
Boring job and entrepreneurship
I have been working in the same job for 18 years now, and I do not see any chance of fuhther personal development in my position, though the pay is not bad, I am kind of bored, yet I need the money, so I have just started to pursue an independent acttvity on the side, call it entrepreneurship, everything is new I feel, I am stepping on in the realm of the unknown , but I am feeling that I am fully living my days again, there is a new obligation, very important, I am commited to myself ... This Tprah Portion is encouraging...
(11) Myron, February 17, 2012 6:21 AM
Courage to leave a marriage.
"Do not be unequally yoked..." Sometimes we think a marriage will relieve lonliness and that years later, when the marriage has long gone bad, we stay because at least we have another body in the house that can care for us in our old age, and that ain't bad.
(10) Renee halevy, February 13, 2012 7:20 PM
Renee's ziz art facebook page
Each week, I release a new Ziz Art, a combination of art and messages based on the parasha. After reading your interpretation this week, I think you would particularly enjoy this week's "Renee's Ziz Art - tune your dot" facebook page. I encourage you to take a look, and even do a LIKE. Have a great week, Renee
(9) cathy moore, February 13, 2012 12:20 AM
fabulous :)
thank you for putting into words what has taken me 20 years to do.
(8) Sara, January 24, 2011 9:00 PM
The greatest ensalvement today....
One of the greatest ensalvement today is prison. When a person is given a long prison sentence, it is without question that person no longer has the ability to succeed on his own. That person returns to a life of crime because he became so depended on the system. This is self ensalvement and when it happens at a young age the greater degree of mental enslavement. That person almost become the walking dead in and once released out side of prison. Very few without of the help of society or family can not make it. How can that person succeed? In many cases it becomes hell on earth because that person didn't follow God's laws for whatever reason.
(7) SusanE, February 11, 2010 8:41 PM
I've Read your Article Three Times
I read your article "The Seed to Succeed". Then I read the comments section and considered the commenters views. Then I read you again and then again. Lots to think about and great information there. In accepting charity from the wealthy should we, then, strive to become less poor (if possible in our society) so we don't have to accept the charity? Similar to giving me a meal everyday for the rest of my life, or teaching me how to afford to buy my own food and then I can give charity too. Are we a slave to the charity if we choose to accept it? I don't quite have that figured out yet. -------------------- When I was little, I had two school dresses. One to wear while the other was in the wash. (I think we were having hard tmes.) My Grandmother (mothers mom) wanted to make me a couple skirts, and my father was proud and said no. So my Grandmother said she found a bolt of fabric fallen off a truck and was making skirts for all the Grandaughters from that bolt of fabric. Dad didn't refuse that offer. Well!! I got a new skirt. Then Mom took me to Montgomery Wards and bought me a NEW blouse to go with it. That was 60 year ago. I'll never forget my feelings that day. I think Grandma made it up about finding a bolt of fabric. I don't think my cousins got new skirts. Just me. Grandma never had to offer again. My Dad took a job working for someone else and we were not in want again. I will never be prideful about accepting someones kindness. We can't know how far reaching that act of kindness can be. Thank you for helping me remember that day.
(6) Anonymous, February 8, 2010 11:13 AM
answer to Mr. Nachman
To Mr. Schwartz (2) Refusing a meal so as not to be a slave to charity is not the Jewish way. G-d wants the wealthy to help the poor, and once, when someone told a rabbi that someone had died because of hunger, the rabbi replied that he didn't die of hunger, but of pride (he was too proud to accept charity). Don't forget that the Hebrew word for charity is tzdaka, which comes from tzedek (justice). Because G-d's justice requires that the rich man help the poor one. I wish you all the best.
(5) Anonymous, February 8, 2010 2:09 AM
This was a great and meaningful divar torah. Great job.
(4) Edith, February 17, 2009 8:37 AM
Today there are more things to become a slave
It is quite enlighting to read this interpretation, because today, I believe, we are less and less free and simple. And, what is worst is that our children are becoming slaves without knowing or questioning. Today, children adopt lifestyles with strict boundaries that do not let them grow healthy. Just going to a school is enough to see the different ideologies that separate them from talking or integrating with others. In my opinion, this interpretation is very powerful not just to us as Adults, but for children too, who today are more tied to material things or ideologies.
(3) Chris, February 2, 2008 3:19 AM
How Relavent
It is amazing how relavent this teaching is to the struggles I face. It is true the longer we stay imprisoned to things the more comfortable we become with them and the less we will try to get free. It is sometimes hard for me to read this portion because it is hard for me to understand how G-d could allow such a thing like having slaves to be a part of Israelite society. Yes G-d's laws concerning this would set Israel apart in that the slaves actually had to be treated fairly like keeping them only for 6 years and then letting them be free and letting them go free if any bodily serious bodily harm was inflicted on them. Yet I know this portion has a meaning for us now. I have my own personal fears and things that keep me up emotionally. I need to ask G-d for the strength to be free.
(2) Norman Schwartz, February 25, 2006 12:00 AM
easy to say
Its easy to say,But it depends on G_Ds plan for you and the lessons He wants you to learn.If you are hungry and broke,and someone offers you charity to eat ,But can you turn down the meal becuz you dont want to be a slave to charity.Will you wait for G-D to feed you so you can be independent of your master charity.You can not answer my question unless you live it.There is no greater taskmaster then to depend on charity. Respectfully Nachman
(1) Scott Granowski, February 24, 2006 12:00 AM
Enslavement
Your column is wonderful - tying together the commandment concerning freeing a Jewish slave with our requirement to leave any bondage behind so that we can serve Hashem. Thank you.