Bo – We are finally free, or are we?

 

Bo – We are finally free, or are we?

 

In this Torah Portion (Parsha), Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron, as the plagues are starting to affect him personally.   He told them, “plan your exodus, take your wives, take your children, your children’s children, and your herds and flocks of animals, and your belongings, and I shall, “Let YOUR people go!”  They packed, and grabbed their belongings, and started their journey!  

To this very day, we remember!  WE REMEMBER!  Each and every year, we commemorate in reverence to, our survival, our not being under The Pharoah’s rule as slaves! This is Pesach (Passover). A tradition that has been carried on for the ages, and shall go on and on, as we survive, day in and day out.  It is our tribute and remembrance to times of slavery, to times of unjust persecution, to times of severe undue punishment. Jewish people from all walks and sects, as well as many Jewish by association celebrate/observe in some manner or form about freedom from persecution, and untie the tethers!  

Every group of people today, be they Jewish, be they Christian, be they white or black, or even polka dotted, be they Muslim, be they Greek Orthodox, be they man or woman, nonbinary…..We all have experienced persecution some time in our histories/life!  Labeling facilitates this behavior as does social media to an extent.  It might have been ages ago or maybe even just yesterday, but we, as so called modern day people must stop and honestly think, “Am I or we repeating the past acts?  Am I treating my fellow human as I wish to be treated?” Am I being treated like a loved human being AND am I treating others, ALL others with a loving hand too?!  One of my favorite words in the English language is “Reciprocity”;  The Golden Rule, “Do on to others as you would wish to have done onto you!”

Do we live in hypocrisy?  Or are we expressing our own personal freedoms?  Has social media become Pharaoh, or the brave, but authoritarian Wizard behind the curtain, or our Cult leader; do we go to our “smart phones” by default, as the social media apps may be an outlet?  I am not arguing that social media is the root of all evil or ‘wrong’ , but our actions are so glued to Facebook, Twitter, Tik Tok, Gmail, etc for us to share and express ourselves, Do you wake up in the middle of the night and just happen to check your email at 2:37 pm? Or check Facebook? Or check your calendar? Are we so glued as a social outlet? 

Social Media, and our apps, “smart phones” can be so very valuable, but also our own worst enemies!  We have recently seen social media absolutely being abused, and NOW is the time to “ LET MY PEOPLE GO”, or something similar please. Express yourself with care and compassion, as if your young child was reading or your Mom or Dad!

Remember, Our Actions speak LOUDER than words. We can apologize over and over again for a statement, but if our actions don’t change, our words become meaningless. We can teach, we can learn, and YES, some people chose to turn away and maliciously deviate, which is horrid, but just speaking and focusing on YOU, YOU can_____________!

Starting or continuing this Shabbat (Sabbath), Let’s make our proactive, positive impact NOW, and not wait for the next sign of a modern plague(s), before it is too late!

We need Tikkun Olam

(Tikkun olam (Hebrew: תיקון עולם ‎, lit. 'repair of the world')

 

The decision is Ours!