“Freedom is a God given right. Do not let anyone take it away from you.”
This year, the “Martin Luther King, Jr. Day” national holiday coincides with my reading this week’s chapter in the Torah called Mishpatim, which translates to “ordinances”. (The Torah is divided into 52 chapters, which I read one of each week.) Last week, Torah readers were introduced to the Ten Commandments in the previous chapter. And this week, their meaning is explored.
“And these are the ordinances that you shall place before them: If you buy a Jewish bondsman, he shall work for six years; and in the seventh he shall go free, for no charge” (Exodus 27:1-2).
The word “bondsman” in this case, can mean slave. One of the definitions of the word “bond” in Webster’s Dictionary is anything that binds, fastens, or restrains. It is remarkable that the explanation of the core of our life conduct, the Ten Commandments, starts with the indication that any restraint has to be limited. Like the creation of the world, which by the Bible’s definition was done in six days, and on the seventh day there was rest. We live in a similar cycle.
We must remember the great teacher and preacher, Martin Luther King, Jr., who advocated freedom from oppression, our beliefs, our habitual behavior, the notion that “I know better” and there is “no other way”.
Slavery in America started in 1619 and was formally outlawed in December 1865, but the slave mentality continued for many more years from both former slaves and their masters.
It is difficult to imagine what it was like to live in the Southern States in the middle of the last century in today’s age. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15th, 1929 and was fatally shot on April 4th, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.
The world became a different place since, but there is plenty of prejudice and disparity. There is still the notion of “them” and “us”. And this goes much deeper than it seems. As much as we value our freedom (at least we say we do), we allow others to restrain our way of life and the way we can do business. (Just take a look at the rules set by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, CFPB).
For many years, Havana was one of the largest centers of the slave trade to the Americas. It is estimated that over $600,000 Africans were taken from West Africa and shipped to Cuba over three centuries until 1886, when slavery was officially abandoned.
Today, Cubans are a mixed race. They are descendants of the Spaniards, English, other Europeans, Chinese, Africans, and remnants of the indigenous people. I recommend seeing the film “Traces of the Trade”, to get a sense of how the history affects our lives today.
P.S.
I’ve chosen images of four beautiful women, who represent the diverse heritage found in Cuba today, for your enjoyment.
DO NOT KEEP ME AS A SECRET.
SMILE AND PLEASE SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND