How to say “freedom” and “respon” in Hebrew
אחריות
I. Thesis – תֵזָה (TEH-zah)
On the one hand, G-d takes the Israelites out of the Egyptian bondage – חֵרוּת (heh-ROOT) – see yesterday’s post.
II. Antithesis – אַנְטִיתֵזָה (AHN-tee-teh-zah)
On the other hand, the phrase that Moses utters on behalf of G-d, “Let my people go…” (שַלַּח אֶת עַמִּי – shah-LAKH et ah-MEE)…
…is followed by “…and they will serve Me.” (וְיַעֲבְדֻנִי – ve-yah-ahv-DOO-nee)
The Jewish people leave slavery to become… slaves? What happened to freedom?
III. Synthesis – סִינתֵזָה (seen-TEH-zah)
When a person (or a people) accepts responsibility – אַחְרַיוּת (akh-rah-YOOT) – upon him/her/itself, that is the greatest form of freedom – the freedom to choose how to behave with full awareness of the consequences of their behavior.
This is the opportunity that G-d grants His people – now they are fully responsible for their actions, so that they are truly free.
Perhaps it’s not coincidental that חירות and אחריות sound alike.