This past week, a giant of Jewish thought passed away. His name is Rabbi Zalman Posner, father of our own Mrs. Vivi Deren (Chabad Rebbetzin -- Stamford, CT). Rabbi Posner was a prolific writer and a pioneer of Jewish outreach. He is the author of “Think Jewish” and many other popular Chassidic works. Following is a powerful thought based on his writings.
Click here for more: http://www.chabader.com/news/article_cdo/aid/2561928/jewish/Rabbi-Zalman-I-Posner-Prolific-Author-Pi...
FREEDOM BECAME REAL ONLY WHEN IT WAS GIVEN DIRECTION
by Rabbi Zalman I. Posner*
“You shall count for yourselves . . from the day you bring the omer . . seven weeks; they shall be complete . . You shall count until the day after the seventh week, the fiftieth day...” [Leviticus (Emor) 23:15-16]
The period between Passover (the festivals of liberation) and Shavuot (the giving of the Torah) is marked by the Counting of the Omer. In a sense the festival of Shavuot is a fulfillment, a climax, of Passover. In terms of the Jewish people as a whole, the significance is obvious: Israel was not a nation by virtue of freedom alone, but by virtue of the Torah.
BUT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO THE INDIVIDUAL?
Freedom became real only when it was given direction. Torah gives life a purpose, a pattern that gives significance to the commonplace. The mitzvot impart spiritual importance even to the ordinaries of living; they make the Jew conscious always of his interested Creator.
At no time are we ever “free;” there is always a standard by which every action is judged. We have no privileged sanctuary as a refuge from responsibility. During work and meals and worship and recreation equally, the pattern of Torah makes these activities avenues to G-D.
Freedom for the Jew is release from oppression but not from self-control. Passover permits man to develop freely, with no interference by anyone with his religious activities. This freedom became real only when it was given direction, when the Torah showed man what man can become.
Passover and Shavuot are complementary festivals, deliberately connected by the Counting of the Omer to stress their inseparability. Together they teach us that achievement in this world is not abandon but adult discharge of productive obligations.
*Rabbi Zalman I. Posner, a noted educator and prolific orator, was an international pioneer of Jewish outreach. He served in the field of rabbinics from 1949 to 2014, and directed Chabad of Nashville, TN. He is the author of “Think Jewish” and many other popular Chassidic works.
Click here for more: http://www.chabader.com/news/article_cdo/aid/2561928/jewish/Rabbi-Zalman-I-Posner-Prolific-Author-Pi...
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?
