Self Oppression

A tyrant can steal everything from you but your knowledge of who you are. That, only you can give away.

When someone else imprisons or enslaves you, you still know who you are—even if you are prevented from expressing it.

But when you make your goal in life to be someone you are not, or to be part of something that is not you, that is the ultimate surrender. There is no greater captivity, for your essence and being have been locked away in a dark cell.

It is an oppression of the worst sort, but also the easiest to escape. After all, you admitted yourself into this place. So who is preventing you from signing out?

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The Oppressive Neighbor

Learning Freedom

By Tzvi Freeman

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

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13 Comments

peter whtie donegal, ireland March 5, 2016

self oppression Converts/would be converts/Jews/fellow goyim :) there is a lot of chat here from people talking about converting - life is not about converting - life is about being who you are - you can run but you cannot hide - i can say this because i have learned it the hard way - you have to be happy in your own skin - btw - think the article is super - i would like to finish with a story i heard from my local priest Fr. Mc Goldrick - yes, i know that sounds a little jewish for donegal, ireland. Anyway, he made the analogy of a car sat nav that keeps offering you a new way to get back on track and that God also is constantly offering us the way "to get back on track" - it might be conversion or it might be another spiritual path but we have to be honest with ourselves and put our trust in Hashem - Shabbat Shalom fellow souls Reply

Lamont Myers Hallendale Fl. March 4, 2016

This is mine, and much more than I can contain. Just as Moses asked to see Hashem's face, so did I. The knowledge, wisdom, insight, love, understanding, harmony, devotion, honor, respect, strength, faith, dignity. I love You Lord, with all my being. As long as I am. Shalom Rebbi Freeman, and Chabad, love, Lamont. Your bringing the best out in us. Reply

Dini Israel Overland Park, Kansas March 4, 2016

Freedom from Yourself This is a life-saving message to everyone. Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada March 4, 2016

Enslaved We are enslaved to our egos that separates us from love of others to the extent of harm and even hatred.

To escape this negative force we need to recognize it and then correct our nature until we return to the root of our soul - that is our essence - to attain our original state in the spiritual world. Reply

Michael Minnetonka, USA July 15, 2012

Comment to comment "Who is greater;"

The one who is greater is the one who exhibits and shares love and kindness to everyone regardless of race, gender, class or religion. If we focus too much on the "why" and our Jewishness, we lose sight of why we're here. Reply

RABBI HAPPYMAN New Rochelle, NY America July 1, 2012

comment Hillel said the essence of Torah is To Love Your Neighbor As Thyself (providing one accepts she is created in image of Divine).

Who is greater;

One who practices all Mitzvot, but largely ignores Hillel, or one who largely ignores Mitzvot but practices Hillel's recommendatioin?

If the answer were up to G-d;, would IT not be the latter, because the former is to withhold love from G-d s image; Man Reply

Gene Bellvue, Co. USA January 2, 2012

How does one become righteous if not to go to a "place one does not belong" in the beginning? Reply

Michael Minnetonka, MN January 15, 2009

Sometimes maybe we can't sign out? "After all, you admitted yourself into this place. So who is preventing you from signing out?"

I know I'm chaging the focus of your essay here, but what about our own fears and insecurities that make it too difficult for us to do something as simple as sign out? Reply

Anonymous Manchester, u.k January 15, 2009

self oppression one can keep one's religious identity even if one does not live in Israel or a ghetto. By being part of wider society we can be good examples and help mankind;which is surely one of the things G-d put us here for in the first place. If we are not doing so;the challenge to elevate ourselves is not so great .Our achievements will be all the greater. Reply

gmb Lake Worth, FL January 15, 2009

jocelyn's right, that's why i need to have an orthodox conversion; i don't like living in "limbo", nor do i want my two sons' lost to the Jewish people forever..... Reply

Jocelyn Ruth Krieger Boca Raton, Fl. January 15, 2009

Self- Oppression Those who convert to Judaism through non-halachic conversions are the greatest oppressed. They are told by Reform and Conservative "Rabbis" that they are Jews when they are not Jewish. They regret not keeping kosher when they need not. They feel guilt for sins they are not responisble for. They think they are Jewish and they are not. Immigrants cannot pronounce themselves to be US citizens by any means whatsoever. One who thinks they are a member of the Jewish nation and has not immersed in a kosher mikvah, presented themselves before a valid beis din, and agreed to live by Torah. The only escape is undergoing a proper Orthodox conversion. You owe it not only to yourself, but to future generations. Reply

Norbert (Nusson) Steiner Boston January 15, 2009

self opression where does self oppression end and mental illness start? what if you know you are a Jew and a child of Holocaust survivors but have no self beyond that? There are so many kinds of mind and ways of thinking even among Chabadniks that I cannot find myself in anything. Where is my place in the world of good going bad and bad doing good? What am I? Reply

Cathy Clearwater, FL January 15, 2009

Thank You This is a beautiful and important reminder. Reply

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