The main theme of the Passover holiday is, undoubtedly, freedom. But we must understand what this freedom is all about. Does it refer simply to the end of Egyptian slavery? Is it only political freedom - a luxury that has eluded the Jewish people for most of their 4,000 year existence?


True to Our Inner Essence
The difference between a slave and a free person is not merely a matter of social

True freedom is an uplifted spirit.

position. We can find an enlightened slave whose spirit is free, and a free man with the mentality of a slave.


True freedom is that uplifted spirit by which the individual - as well as the nation as a whole - is inspired to remain faithful to his inner essence, to the spiritual attribute of the Divine image within him. It is that quality that enables us to feel our life has value and meaning.


A person with a slave mentality lives his life and harbors emotions that are rooted not in his own essential spiritual nature, but in that which is attractive and good in the eyes of others. In this way, he is ruled by others, whether physically or by social conventions.


Vanquished, in exile, we were oppressed for hundreds of years by cruel masters. But our inner soul is imbued with the spirit of freedom. Were it not for the wondrous gift of the Torah, bestowed upon us when we left Egypt to eternal freedom, the long exile would have reduced our spirits to the mindset of a slave. But on the festival of freedom, we openly demonstrate that we feel ourselves to be free in our very essence. Our lofty yearnings for that which is good and holy are a genuine reflection of our essential nature.


[Adapted from Ma'amerei HaRe'iyah, Celebration of the Soul, pp. 141-143]


"Next Year in Jerusalem"


When Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook visited the United States, scores of people came to see and meet him. The purpose of his trip, however, was to raise funds for Torah institutions in EretzYisrael.


The Philanthropist's Question
At one gathering in the rabbi's honor, a well-known philanthropist agreed to give a very sizable donation to the cause, but only if the Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel could explain to him a puzzling practice.


At the conclusion of both the Seder night and Yom Kippur, Jews the world over say, "Next year in Jerusalem."


"I understand why Diaspora Jews say this," said the man, "but why do Jews who live in holy city say it? Are they not already there?"


The rabbi listened attentively to the question and then answered genially: "The matter is quite simple, my dear friend. First of all, in Jerusalem we add one word to our prayer.

In the United States, scores of people came to see and meet Rabbi Kook.

We say, 'Next year in the rebuilt Jerusalem' - and we still have a long way to go before that request is fulfilled in its entirety.


"But there is more," continued the rabbi with a smile on his face. "When we beseech God, 'Next year in Jerusalem,' we mean that we hope to be there in the fullest sense - in body, soul and thought. We pray that our situation will be different than it is today - when people dwell in Jerusalem but are preoccupied with planning trips to America raise funds."


Judging from the size of the man's donation, it was clear that he was especially pleased with the second answer.


[From An Angel Among Men by R. Simcha Raz, translated by R. Moshe Lichtman, pp. 253-254]