TheYeshiva.net - Rabbi YY Jacobson

Is Judaism Stifling or Liberating?

Let freedom ring! But what does it mean to be free?

48 min

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Class Summary:

This class will travel into the world of some of Judaism’s greatest geniuses, Maimonides, Rabbi Yosef Rosen, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and see how they understood some of life’s deepest truths from textual halachik nuances. What is freedom – is it merely the absence of slavery and oppression? What is rest – is it merely the termination of work? Maimonides says that the obligation to remember and recount the story of the Exodus on Passover is the same as the obligation to remember Shabbos. Why does he make this comparison? But how is ‘rest’ different than ‘refraining from work’? How is ‘freedom from slavery’ differ from active ‘freedom?’ Indeed, the Hebrew language offers us two words to describe liberty: Chofesh and Charus. The difference between them is dramatic: One is freedom defined by what we are not; the other is freedom defined by what we are. The famous Rogachover Gaon, Rabbi Yosef Rosen, teaches an extraordinary and innovative law based on Maimonides: It is not enough to refrain from work on Shabbos, but one must actively engage in rest. This then is Maimonides’ point. It is not enough to be released from slavery, one must actively live ‘free.’

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Please leave your comment below!

EI
emunah, israel -12 years ago
lashon hora tapes
hello rabbi, about 15 years ago cassette tapes of your in depth talks on lashon hora where circulating. where can they be found? and are they available in hebrew? thank you
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- A
  Anonymous -12 years ago
  Re: lashon hora tapes
  I do not recall. Can you be more specific as to the content, titles etc. and then I can perhaps be of help.
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TY
Thank you -12 years ago
Corrections
To a local Jester

You may enjoy yourself as much as you can and do any stunt you like, but when it comes to terminology that you don’t know, please, be very careful, take time to learn more about that or find another fun to do.

BITTUL means selflessness or self nullification.
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LM
Lab Material -12 years ago
B”H
Questions and Exercises
1. The Rambam (Maimonides) links the remembrance of Exodus to the remembrance of Shabbat. Why?
May be because he foresaw that his works would reach the era of information revolution where “TWO IN ONE” is very attractive and appealing, so instead of long description about dos and don’ts he pointed to the core of its vertical and horizontal plains.
1. There are two separate commandments on Shabbat : “refraining from work” and “resting”. Is Shabbat for you all about cessation of work, or is there something more? What does it mean for you to “relax”?
Vertically, “resting” and “refraining from work” can be comprehend all ways up to TAYINUG and ROTZIN of our essence (From very few that I know about them: small children when left to play games on their own are gravitate to come in touch with their core, that give them a taste of true freedom ).

Horizontally, we stumble with nonsense: if a person is out of a real work how he or she can refrain from what they do not do, as for resting without responsibility it can be more correlated with people in the cemetery… Hope they would not be insulted with my metaphor…
1. Is freedom my natural passive state of being, or does it require conscious effort? If exempted from all responsibility, obligation, and external influences, am I then automatically free?
…Obvious stagnation is the only thing that differ those people in the cemetery from passive beings.
1. Is it possible for me to be enslaved to myself?
Sure! What do you think I am doing right now during these exercises?

Try to find an addiction or impulse that you find compelled by, against your better judgment?

What is it,“ better judgment”? Where is it? Okay I have new answer for Q. # 4: Freedom is nothing else then awareness and satisfaction of my soul’s needs.

Empirical trial of this particular thesis should be ready only by the end of my … experiment and I will share the results with you later…
1. Does real freedom entail a certain measure of discipline?
May be,

but for me it’s more about humility, because true freedom is coming from your essence that beyond emotions. Though Discipline comes before Balance, my preferences are still with Tiferet as an expression of Truth or Beauty.
1. The Rabbis tell us that real freedom is attained through adherence to Torah. But isn’t that just another form of subjugation and submission?
If it helps to focus on my soul’s a need and bring peace to my essence why should I ignore the Laws that required certain discomfort for me?
1. Honestly, do you find Judaism liberating or stifling?
It may be the only way for my personal liberation, but it’s easy to misuse it and turn into “smotherator”.

Why?

Because in Judaism we have compass- it calls BITLE or humility, without it you may find yourself stuck in, far away from your destination, from your soul’s needs or inner essence and no money, luxury, connections are able to fill the gap.
1. Do people who have less responsibility in life have more freedom in their life?
For me people without responsibility are nothing but Zombies (neither newborns nor very old people are counted); it’s not that they have no freedom- it’s that they have no life where freedom can be implement.

P.S. Dear Ida and David Schottenstein we are very grateful for your unprecedented contribution in the research of our essence.

Be blessed with multitude times more for long and happy life!
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LRF
Leib Reuvan Feldman -13 years ago
Torah Or on Thursday night
each and every time i listen to any of the videos it is wonderful..to learn and listen
thank you for that
in my wish list if i can share it with you...
a thursday night ..Torah Or..Likutti Torah shir with you on video...
thinking of this idea ..gevald gevald
to bring Torah Or to so many people.... with your particular animation..and beautiful passion..your special way that you connect with people ..with this medium of video..it works..it fits
it has value..it has possibilities..it has its own importance.
thank you for letting me share
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A
Admin -13 years ago
To Alizah
Under the video there is the option to play as a lower resolution. That may work better for you.
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Rabbi YY Jacobson

December 2, 2013
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29 Kislev 5774
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3749 views

Dedicated by David and Eda Schottenstein In the loving memory of Alta Shula Swerdlov And in honor of Yetta Alta Shula, "Aliyah" Schottenstein