On Losing Weight During Passover - Freeing Myself From My Personal Slavery

I wasn't going to post again before Passover seder tonight, but an email from a rabbi in town has put me in a particularly analytical mood, which means that, if you're reading this, you'll have to bear with my ramblings on this topic.

In Rabbi Dovid's email, he discusses the importance of the phrase at the beginning of the Haggadah, inviting "[a]ll who are hungry, come and eat; all who are needy come and celebrate Passover." Although no one really expects the truly hungry to suddenly come rushing into their seders, the phrase is supposed to reign in the souls of those already present at the seder, helping them to concentrate on freeing themselves from their personal slavery. While we are no longer slaves in Egypt, we are still slaves to many things, including those on Rabbi Dovid's list (scars from the past that cripple us; fears that prevent us from opening our hearts; bad habits that waste our time and divert our energy; toxic relationships that we have become dependant on; negative attitudes that darken our vision; egotism and complacency that stunt our growth.) and many more. As a result, the invitation to the needy really means that we are inviting ourselves to come to the seder to experience freedom for the first time.

On this Passover, my favorite Jewish holiday, I will arrive at the Seder a very different person than I was last year. In addition to having lost 19.8lbs (as of this morning), I've grown spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually. At this time last year, I was enslaved to unrequited feelings for another, jealousy, and other petty thoughts. More directly related to the Judaism (and our stereotypical love of bagels and shmear), I was enslaved to fulfilling myself with food instead of more meaningful "stuff." While I am by no means perfect and remain enslaved to many things, I am proud of the progress that I have made. The road ahead is long and winding, and I know that it won't be easy. Still, things seem to really be coming together, even despite the minor setbacks here and there. I have found fulfillment and meaning in new friendships, new passions and areas of interest, and in myself.

I can't wait to see how I feel a year from now. I raise a glass to pursuing freedom.

Un Besito Grandote,
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