I fear we are in danger of falling into a similar trap. As we sink more and more into the host culture, as we absorb its norms and parrot some of those norms in our own interactions with others without recognizing what is happening, we are losing our freedom, our true cheirus that we acquired when we left Egypt and subsequently accepted the Torah on Har Sinai.
We are only a truly free nation when we are suffused with emunah in Hashem. We are only a free people when we behave with Godliness in our interactions with one another, when we treat each other respectfully, when we do not slander or speak lashon hara or spread lies and innuendo about our fellow man.
Let us not be deluded by unbridled “democracy.” Let us not be deceived as we were in the time of Pharaoh and during the numerous occasions in our long exile when we slowly forgot who we are and what our purpose in the world is.
If we will realize that what passes for “freedom of expression” even in our frum world is often a ruse – a ruse that starts with lack of emunah, continues with terrible deficiencies in interpersonal conduct, and ends with deep moral degeneration – we will understand that we are at a crossroads.
This Pesach we must ask ourselves: Are we choosing true cheirus as our forefathers did when they left Egypt – or are we choosing ersatz “freedom” that will lead chalilah to eternal bondage?
This Pesach, let us all resolve to make the right choice.
