Freedom of Choice: Non-Negotiable

Some friends are furious that I'd dare protest the regime's travel ban on Jews.

They think it's wonderful that Jews are being forced to stay put in our Holy Land. Some have even accused me of having committed the Sin of the Spies (Numbers 13:1-14:38) for speaking ill of the administration of our Holy Land, or for protesting a policy that prevents Jews from leaving our Holy Land.

To these ardent lovers of our Holy Land, anything that might dissuade a Jew from being in the Land is a cardinal sin.

Without addressing whether or not this is an authentic Torah value, I'd like to set the record straight.

Never did I speak ill of Jews of our Holy Land. Rather, I have protested a vile anti-Jewish regime that tyrannizes the Jews of our Holy Land. I bemoaned the fact that many are still oblivious to the democidal agenda of his regime and still obey it obsequiously.

Moreover, I protested this regime's bizarre violation of the people's essential human liberties which include the right to freedom of movement.

Never did I suggest that anyone should necessarily flee the Land. That wasn't my point.

The outrage is not that Jews are staying put in the Land notwithstanding the perilous situation, but rather that the regime is forcing them to stay put.

We cannot afford to tolerate this (or any) regime encroaching in our essential human liberties for any reason. Not even for alleged security reasons. The state does NOT own you. They may not confine your movement or keep you prisoner in your country.

This is a simple truth. There's no need to shoot the messenger. I'm not attempting to detract from the sanctity of our Land or discredit those who reside there in any way, nor am I calling for anyone to leave.

It's wonderful that you wish to remain in our Holy Land even amidst unsettling circumstances, to put it lightly, but it's not okay to remain indifferent when the government restricts your movement.

By way of example, you're welcome to isolate and study Torah assiduously in your own basement all day long for fourteen-days straight plus, and perhaps that's even laudatory, but it's not okay for the government to force you to shelter in place for even one day. You are not their prisoner or slave. Why is that so hard to understand?

By all means, delight in living in Hashem's Holy Land, but do so as a free man by your own volition, not out of coercion or imprisoned status.

Don't sit there indifferently when the state locks you down or restricts your right of movement. That's not okay, not for any reason.

Again, I'm not urging you to leave, but rather to rise up and remove your shackles of indifference.

Reject state tyranny. Reclaim your G-d-given freedoms. They're not yours to relinquish.

Stop giving your vile regime “benefit of the doubt.”

There is no doubt. The facts are all out in the open.

The regime has actively attempted to liquidate the people by forcing them to submit to a deadly bioweapon. Thousands are dead and millions injured for life and/or walking mac addresses. This is all well-documented. Bibi bragged that he delivered his population to Pfizer to become a "laboratory" for Mengelian human experimentation. Case closed.

Holders of power are NEVER to be granted benefit of doubt. We are always to presume malice over incompetence.

To suggest that the regime suddenly cares about the lives of their human population is absurd. Only the indoctrinated will believe such drivel.

The Spies sinned by attempting to hinder people from entering the Land. Any attempt to coercively hinder people from leaving the Land is equally as odious, and even more so.

In fact, the lesson of this week's Torah portion (Sh’lach, story of the Spies) is that we must serve God out of our own free volition. “'Send for you’ — by your own will” (שלח לך לדעתך). See Rashi on Numbers 13:2.

Hashem was telling Moses: Let the people see for themselves how the Land is good, so that they should wish to ascend and take possession of it by their own free will, not just because they were so commanded.

Free will, the right to free choice, is the very theme of the Parshah. That's why the very first commandment given after the debacle of the Spies is the free-will offering, korban nedava, and the sacrifice offered by the righteous convert (Numbers 15:1-16), who may only enter the Covenant by his/her own free will.

Freedom of choice and freedom of movement ought to be non-negotiable.

Without it them, what makes Israel any different from Iran?

No, this is not okay. It makes no difference if missiles are falling or pathogens are allegedly on the loose.

No one many restrict your movement, by land, by air, or by sea.

You are a child of God Almighty. You are inherently free. Take ownership of that.

By asserting your God-given freedoms, may God free us from all hostile enemies from without and within.