Not to get political, but most people on both sides of the aisle would consider President’s Trump’s boldly declared “Liberation Day” when declaring tariffs on most countries around the world as anything but liberating. It tanked the stock markets both here and abroad, made both Main Street and Wall Street anxious and worried, and painted big question marks of uncertainty everywhere.
And all this happened close to Passover – when Jews annually celebrate liberation and freedom.
Can liberation go awry? Can liberation cause problems? (Yes, I know people will take issue with Trump equating tariffs with liberation altogether. But the fact he called it thus, and so close to Passover, made us think of this broader question, that is a valid question even beyond his declaration). In terms of political science, economics and current events this can indeed be a broader more complicated question.
In terms of Passover – there’s an important add-on to “Let My People Go!” The verse doesn’t end there. Freedom alone might be a big deal but in Judaism it’s not the whole story. Liberation for its own sake may not always be that liberating. You can have a Liberation Day with devastating results.
Instead, the biblical verse of the Exodus says: “Let My People Go – so they may serve Me!” says G-d. Freedom and liberation are most fulfilling and successful when combined with purpose and meaning, when connected to G-d, to that which is greater and beyond ourselves.
Where does your Liberation Day lead you? What do we do with our freedom? What do we base on liberation on? What guides and informs it?