Yitro

Adapted from Rabbi James Jacobson-Maisels

In this week's parashah, Yitro, we read of the revelation at Sinai that follows the Exodus from Egypt. The Hasidic master R. Yehudah Leib Alter of Ger explains that Sinai follows the Exodus because while freedom might have been initiated at the Exodus, it is only completed at Sinai.

Philosopher Isaiah Berlin taught about two kinds of liberty: negative liberty and positive liberty. Negative liberty is defined as freedom from - the freedom from restraint on one's actions, enshrined in such concepts as human and civil rights. Positive liberty is defined as freedom to - the freedom to pursue a good life personally and communally, expressed in such rights as the right to vote, the right to organize, the right to education, and the right to pursue economic stability.

The Exodus from Egypt brought the Israelites negative liberty, while the Ten Commandments brought the opportunity for positive liberty. To create and maintain a community where positive liberty flourishes, individuals must freely choose to practice self-restraint. The Ten Commandments offer beginning teachings about creating this community.

The lessons of this parashah call us to share the lessons we have learned about communities of positive liberty, and to work towards establishing positive liberty in all the communities of which we are a part.

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