Lesson From Released Hostages Joy

 

The Rebbe gave us a few daily study cycles.  I live off them and really encourage you to start them.  Yesterday and today we’ve been learning about hostages in our Tanya cycle, and I wanted to share something I learned.  It made me think about the hostages that have been released and it’s a powerful message, that we too can experience that pain of being a hostage and the joy of being released.  We just have to become more sensitive to how our lives are being lived. Here is what the Alter Rebbe says: “This will be your lifelong work, to serve G-d with great joy of your soul being liberated from your lowly body, and being returned “to her Father’s house”.  This happens when you learn Torah and do mitzvos… There is no greater joy than being released from captivity and bondage, just like a prince who has taken hostage, and was grinding the millstone covered in garbage, and then finally is released back home to his father’s palace.”   Basically, he is saying that our souls are like the prince or princess, and they are being held hostage by our bodies, which force them into dark places and don’t have the freedom to experience real life. Real life is a joyful.  Real life is feeling close to G-d.  Real life is fulfilling. And instead, we’re stuck inside our bodies that force us into darkness, bad habits and addictive attractions to meaningless things. Every time that we do a mitzvah, we are releasing hostages. We are going from the darkness of tunnels to the light of G-d. I’ve read this so many times, but this year, having seen hostages being released, I can relate to it so much more.  As much as I disagree with the circumstances under which they are being released, I share their joy, and want to learn from it. I hope that I will internalize Torah enough to truly feel what they feel every time I pray or do a mitzvah. And this is my blessing for you too. May we all become released hostages.