This week's Parashat - Parashat Mishpatim - begins with the laws of purchasing a Hebrew slave.
The Torah states that ownership of a slave is for only six years, after which it is obligatory to free him. If the slave refuses to be freed, his master must pierce his ear with an awl, and then he must serve him until the Jubilee.
The Sages insist on the reason why his ear is pierced, explaining that this is to express the sin of the slave who heard on Mount Sinai from God, "For the children of Israel are my servants," and yet he prefers the service of his master to the service of his creator.
The explanation is that when one is subject to another entity, the ability to fulfill God's will is inevitably compromised, and one can no longer be called a slave, when the meaning of "slave" is complete abandonment to the will of the master.
There is no greater slavery than one who forgets the purpose of his public mission and falls into engaging in personal politics, because then he enslaves himself to narrow considerations, becomes a slave to his pride, and forgets that he is actually a servant of God.
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The Torah reminds us of the obligation to be servants of God.
To turn frequently and seek the good of the public, to act according to the will of the Torah.
Please don't be slaves to politics.
In all my actions, I always have before my eyes Maran Zia, who would tell me: "If you want success, do only what is right for the people - not what is right for you.".
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