The portion-parasha of Be'har Lev. 25:10
talks about sanctifying the 50th year- the Yovel= Jubilee and proclaiming
freedom-' dror' for ALL its INHABITANTS, it will be a Yovel
for YOU; you shall return each man to …. His family.
The importance that all people should be
free is because God says in verse 25:55' For the Israelites are servants to me,
they are my servants whom I have taken out of the Land of Egypt.' They cannot serve another Master but God
alone. Because God has taken the Israelites out of the Egyptian bondage– and
each Jew has to see as he himself left Egypt- , they owe their lives and
freedom to Him. Because they are totally indebted to Him, they are
willing to give their lives to Him as His servants. Here
are 2 questions.
1 Why do we celebrate
freedom in the Jubilee year if that freedom means we have to submit us
ourselves to a new Master? 2. Verse
25:10 talks about freedom for all its inhabitants, should the verse not read
freedom for all the indentured servants and a Jubilee for them and not for YOU
who are already free?
First, we must define what true freedom or
autonomy is. According to the SDT – Self
Determination Theory a person is autonomous, self-determined and self- directed
when he endorses his actions at the highest level of reflection. When self-determined people experience a
sense of freedom to do what is interesting, personally important, and
vitalizing this often happens when we do things enjoyable or interesting
and they are an expression of our deepest values. When a person's basic needs
for autonomy, competence and relatedness= having a sense of belonging and
feeling supported people are met ,
people feel self- determined and are intrinsically motivated and engaged. It also leads
to enhanced performance, persistence and creativity.
Autonomy does not mean independence. It
is a state of mind. We can very willing subject ourselves to a security check
at the airport because we identify with its value and purpose. In the same way
we act with volition when we intentionally choose to subject and commit
ourselves to God and his Torah. And this is what the Sages say –the only people
who experience true freedom and autonomy are those who deal and are involved
with revealing God's will through the Torah. In this way they follow the example
of Abraham, the Patriarch in the leadership role of serving God and
being of service to man. To be a servant of God one has to be a leader who can
inspire people and such a person needs to be truly free, autonomous,
self-determined and powerful.
It is not only the master- servant or
master-slave relationship where the master is' controlling' and denies the
servant any autonomy, but often in a marriage – husband and wife, in the family
–parent and child in the workplace – boss and employee, or in school – teacher
and student where people with power – boss, teacher and parent or even a spouse
are very controlling, dominating and sometimes intimidating. The truth is that
it is not only the people who are being controlled whose needs for autonomy are
not met, but the person who has a need to control others does not experience
autonomy and true freedom. The need and goals of autonomy are intrinsic – more
about the person himself, his self-control, ability to teach, inspire, influence
and lead because of his ability –competence and relationship with people. The
person who needs to control others has extrinsic needs and goals for power and
control over people. They compensate for feelings of weakness, insecurity, low
self-esteem, fear of losing control, and relationships where there is no trust
and connection. So the controlling person lacks true freedom and autonomy
because he is being controlled by his fears and inadequacy.
The Jubilee and call for true freedom is
directed to all the inhabitants. Not only do people with power have to
relinquish control and support the autonomy of their servants, employees, spouses,
students and children but people who have power to be controlling have to focus
on intrinsic needs and goals of autonomy, competence and relatedness so they
can lead by their greatness rather than by their power, position and status. If
one gives up control, one gains influence and connection.The servant returns to
his home to lead his family in the ways of God. If he feels autonomous ,
perceives himself as competent , feels a
love for his family and respects
them and their autonomy he will
be highly motivated and feel a sense of true freedom in serving God and being
of service to man.
Education is about building leaders.
Leaders are not servants, but they lead themselves, and others in serving God
and being of service to man. If we address our kid's needs for autonomy,
competence and relatedness they will make the Torah theirs, and be leaders in
their own way.
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