Growing
up, I always loved Passover. In our house it was a family affair preparing -- changing dishes, making the food for the seders,
setting the table, sitting around our large room sized table with everyone whom
I loved, grandparents, aunts and uncles, family friends and some strays and
first timers. It was magical!!! Especially
singing with my dad as he lead the seder!
I
was very familiar with the entire story of the Exodus, Moses, Pharaoh and the
10 plagues, but the idea of “slavery”
of the Israelites was kind of lost on a young child from South Orange, New
Jersey in the 50’s and 60’s. Later study provided me with more facts,
archaeological, historical, etc.
Over
the last few decades, new evidence about the Exodus has emerged in the form of
Egyptian scrolls and architectural discoveries that talk about a Semitic
Expulsion by the native Egyptians, who were a North African people. Invading Semitic
groups conquered Egypt and ruled for over 200 years and were driven out. In the
Torah story, it says that a “mixed
multitude” went out. As my professor from Rutgers stated: “All Israelites were Hebrews (Semites,
speaking a Semitic language), but not all Hebrews were Israelites.”
Either
way, Passover is called the Holiday of
Freedom among other names. Standing at Mt. Sinai 50 days later, tradition
says the Torah or Instruction was given -- a Guideline for Human Behavior and Values to
create a Society -- Tzeddek, Mishpat
and Hesed (Righteousness, Justice and Lovingkindness).
● Yes,
we are our brother's and sister’s keepers (guardians)!
● Yes,
we are the shepherds and managers of life on this planet!
The
Israelites escaped forced labor, no right to choose, no chance to be different
or go against authority, no opportunity to be free to develop their uniqueness
as a nation.
We Are Still
Slaves!!!
The New Slavery serves Empty Valueless Constant Consumption in pursuit of
Personal Pleasure disguised and marketed to us as Happiness. This New Slavery connects the entire world together in
seconds, but divides us into individuals seeking their individual rights rather
than acting together as a community for the Common Good. The New Slavery uses
21st Century Brain Science to Hack our brains, mines us for information for
manipulation of adults and our Children to be good little consumers, Slaves to
Corporations, Politicians and Authoritarian Religious Beliefs and Vacuous
Trends! They are our New Pharaohs and our New Plagues!
For
this reason, Jim and I have been working together in our 25 year journey,
establishing the TOV Center and providing the information and defenses against
this assault on our humanity and society, our need for one another, to guide
more people in the emergence of Our Power as a Community -- the power of We The People, with Common
Values who Demand Transparency from our institutions, Political, Religious and
Corporate.
Another
professor of mine from Rabbinical School once said; “Freedom, without the Discipline of Torah, is Chaos.” Let us work
this coming year to throw off the bonds of the New Slavery of Mental Manipulation
and the feds addictions of Self-Gratification. Let us leave our safe comfortable
Egypts and stand together to create a world where Righteousness, Justice and
Kindness abounds.
Shalom
My Friends,
Rabbi
Jeffrey Leynor
