As we turn our thoughts to Pesach, the holiday of freedom, a few thoughts come to mind. The Jews sought freedom from slavery; their purpose was to serve God. Freedom of religion was a founding principal of the USA. The words of Hatikvah speak of a yearning "To be a free people in our land". I fear, though, that the concept of freedom has been co-opted.
For many of my clients, especially young adults, freedom means breaking free from the shackles of authority. For frum clients, religious practice is often the focus of their struggle. Seeking freedom, they often do the opposite of what they have been told.
Eventually they realize - with help, or without - that doing the opposite of what they're told does not make them free. Doing the opposite of what you're told is just oppositional behavior. True choice is making an independent decision. And that is hard.
True choice is rooted in self-knowledge. What are your values? What do you believe? What do you know to be true? What do you not know? What are you okay with not knowing?
What do you want from life? What about from religion? From spirituality? Are those even the same thing?
In the realm of spirituality, I often find that I have more questions than answers. In truth, I have no answers, only questions. To me, these kinds of questions are at the heart of spiritual growth.
“I am just a child who has never grown up. I still keep asking these 'how' and 'why' questions. Occasionally, I find an answer.”
-Stephen Hawking
Shimmy Feintuch, LCSW CASAC-G maintains a private practice in Brooklyn, NY, and Washington Heights, NYC, with specialties in addictions and anxiety. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Contact: (530) 334-6882 or shimmyfeintuch@gmail.com.
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