Exodus 12:2

הַחֹ֧דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם רֹ֣אשׁ חֳדָשִׁ֑ים רִאשׁ֥וֹן הוּא֙ לָכֶ֔ם לְחדְשֵׁ֖י הַשָּׁנָֽה׃

This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall be the first of the months of the year for you. 

What will it take to transform the Israelites from slaves to free people? After hundreds of years of slavery, they have forgotten what it means to be free. For Moses and for God, enabling the Israelites to be free, not just in body but in mind and spirit, will be an ongoing project. That task begins with the very first commandment given through Moses to the children of Israel: “This month will mark the beginning of the months.”

One major difference between a slave and a free person is having control of one’s time. At any point in the day of a slave, they may be called on to work. Their time is not their own. The first step in the Israelites expressing their newfound freedom is taking back control of their time. Beginning with this new month, the Israelites will count their days, weeks, months, and years by their own measure. For the first time they will have the opportunity to spend their hours serving their own personal and national goals, and not the needs of oppressors. Instead of the whims of Pharaoh, the rhythms of Shabbat, the holidays, and the mitzvot will now guide their days.

True freedom is not simply escaping bondage. It’s learning to use our time meaningfully, and this remains an ongoing task. The way we spend our time is often shaped by life’s never ending demands and distractions. But taking time to pursue moments of holiness, of study, of prayer, of good deeds – taking moments to pursue a higher calling is a true expression of freedom. We read this first commandment to the newly freed Israelites and remember that though the Exodus took place thousands of years ago, our journey toward true freedom continues, one holy moment at a time., a farewell address by Moses spanning over four hours when read aloud. Would the Moses of the burning bush ever have believed he could give such a speech? When we have the courage and faith to push ourselves beyond what we deem possible, we discover strengths we didn’t know we had, realizing a potential that God saw all along even when we had our doubts.rt us in our times of need, and when things are well, helps us maintain gratitude and a check on our ego.  I understand the desire of the officers in Catch 22 to have a break from God. But the Jewish way is to embrace God in all aspects of life, not as an intrusion but as a companion, a guide, and a source of meaning.t that in a moment our lives can change for the better too. Our job is not only to hope, but expect that good will come when we least expect it.e in stature and authority in Egypt and save an entire region from famine.