Passover Freedom
As we head into the weekend, Jewish people all over the world will be celebrating the As we head into the weekend, Jewish people all over the world will be celebrating the start of Passover, the Festival of Freedom.
We commemorate and celebrate the emancipation of the Jewish people from our slavery in Egypt and tell the story of our history, our connection to the Land of Israel, and the universal desire for freedom and liberation.
Rabbi Ben-Zion Meir Hai Ouziel, the first Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel, said that freedom from oppression is the most fundamental freedom, but it’s only partial. True freedom requires inner cultivation. (Source: American Sephardi Federation)
Today, we continue to fight for our own liberation and for that of so many marginalized peoples.
So many of us create our own versions of prison by being “slaves” to our surroundings. People from historically marginalized groups suffer even another layer of oppression from society - which often informs the limitations we create for ourselves.
We desire to fit-in, to assimilate, to be accepted by the society we live in.
Growing up in Jewish day school, we were taught that one of the reasons G-d freed us from slavery was because we held on so strongly to our Jewish identity in Egypt- we didn’t change our names, our language, or our beliefs.
True freedom requires us to STAND OUT. It requires us to embrace our unique identities, from the communities we belong to and from our own individuality. It means to love and accept your beautiful uniqueness and to understand where you come from- your history, your culture, your faith, your language - and how all of that contributes to making you YOU.
The answer to oppression is not to try to diminish or erase your identity and blend in. The answer to oppression is to amplify your identity, amplify your uniqueness, and demand respect, equity, and inclusion BECAUSE of the unique value that you bring to the world.
Freedom is a feeling that begins in our minds.
What thoughts make you feel most free?
I’m a life and impact coach for artists, music industry professionals, and all mission-driven peeps here to helping you embrace your unique identity, experience true freedom, and make your most authentic impact. Book a discovery call today.