Being Paradox - Splitting the Sea

“The water was a wall for them, to their right and to their left.”—Exodus 14:29

Freedom is not to the right. Freedom is not to the left. Neither is it at the center.

Any direction you take is just another form of bondage. Only by walking opposite roads at once can you be free.

So if you catch yourself fitting into a definition, contradict it. Never say, “I am this.” Always be leaving the slavery of Egypt.

Yes, it demands the supernatural. You are a divine spark. You are supernatural.

Always be walking through the miraculous splitting of the sea.

Likutei Sichot volume 3, page 969.

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Miraculous Obstacles

Splitting the Sea

By Tzvi Freeman

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

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Wisdom to Heal the Earth is a revolutionary new look at Tikun Olam based on the teachings of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.

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37 Comments

Michele Marion Francis Illinois April 12, 2023

Absolutely! We are Unique. Reply

Avishai Barbourville, KY April 10, 2023

If we look carefully we can see that for us it is also only NOW (to our souls). We don’t experience the movement of time, but only create and compare images about it. What we call our Soul exists outside of our body/images, but our mind tricks us so that we learned to identify with our body, This conclusion is how we developed the ego which now rules us like an emperor. Each of the innumerable egos conflict with others but congregate into groups of various narratives, cultures, religions, etc. You are NOT your body. As the Creator says “I AM” so we must change our viewpoint. Reply

Leah April 20, 2022

The broken butterfly image is a bit disturbing. Reply

Rita Forbes Clinton April 20, 2022

in response to Leah:

Hello, Leah
Once again. When I see the caterpillar I don't see the butterfly. When I see the butterfly and it's beauty, I forget that it once was an unsightly caterpillar. When I see Leah, Jacob's first wife, I see her brokeness because she wasn't loved. When I see the Jew and their beauty, I forget the hurt and pain of Leah. Every Jewish tribe [no matter where they are in the world] call themselves Jews after Leah and Jacob's son Judah. You can see how much G-d loved her and transformed her brokeness and pain into everlasting beauty, dancing, joy, and praise from the inside out. That is why we should never say, "I am this" for HaShem is daily transforming us into a masterpiece. A beautiful butterfly like Leah.

Best wishes,
🕊💜 Reply

Sara Metzger Monsey January 9, 2022

How do you walk on opposite roads at once? Reply

Brenda Toronto, Ontario, Canada January 9, 2022

in response to Sara Metzger:

We must find balance between:
our nature which is to receive for self-benefit and G_d's nature which is to give.

To achieve this balance I must control each opposite at the same time by:
receiving His pleasures only to the extent that I bring contentment to Him. Then I don't devour His delights for my self-benefit only.
Reply

David Harold Chester Petach Tikva, Israel January 11, 2022

in response to Sara Metzger:

one foot after the other. Its only an analogy, actually its in the mind instead. Reply

David Harold Chester Petach Tikva, Israel April 11, 2023

in response to Sara Metzger:

Motion in a big circle that is centered between these two roads will allow one to simultaneously pass in both opposing directions. It is the angular motion that provides an answer to this question.

Of course, this is an analogous expression to the problem of accepting the opposites together yet during our lives and in our thinking, we find ourselves having to accept two opposites at once and not simply coming to a direct decision along a single direction, even when it seems to be so.

For example, the commandment to circumcise males is one that we are reluctant to perform (or have done for us), because it puts the child (or adult) at risk, yet our faith enables us to accept this necessity as a part of our living beliefs. Uncircumcised we are not yet complete, an illogical physical reality! Reply

meir weiss Laval April 10, 2023

in response to Brenda :

bh

balance is god almighty whom created everything and everyone including nature Reply

Silvana January 9, 2022

We all can be much more than we are aware of. Reply

Rita Forbes Clinton March 30, 2021

Rabbi Freeman,

I am not a scientist per se, but I did a brief research and compared the splitting of the sea to the splitting of an atom [fission], and incorporated it into the term we are divine sparks. I found the atom released energy when split [nothing new], but was new is that atoms can decay to a half-life. However, scientists discovered that the atom never stop existing and states that the atom is powerful and eternal!

99% of the human body is made up of atoms! Therefore, we are eternal but just in a different energy or format! Truly we can not be defined or should let anyone put us in a box with their short-sighted definition(s). We have power beyond measure, but we must be taught how to use and control it [i.e. Moses, Joshua, and Elisha and the splitting of the sea(s)].

Thank you for a powerful devotion!

Enjoy your day, Reply

James More See Sound Sea January 26, 2021

Through the sea and across the desert to freedom. Reply

David Harold Chester Petach Tikva, Israel April 17, 2020

Both existance and non-existance together The two opposing concepts are not like dialectic materialism--they do not lead to a third idea, but in themselves apply together without any development. Its not logical and I suspect that in this respect logic does not directly apply as to how our lives are arranged. Somehow we can be inside and outside the circle at once.

Thus pre-determination and independent choice apply simultaneously and we need to accept this. Reply

Elliot Lazerwitz Tel Aviv March 30, 2021

in response to David Harold Chester:

You relate to Rabbi Freeman's parable from a philosophical point of view.
But I don't think we can approach his meaning, unless we connect with our own expèrience of "being both here and there at once". I think Chassidut is often about living in a paradox. Reply

Amares Yerseke April 27, 2019

Shalom! I'm very happy to be here at Chabad.org and I hope to learn,to find wisdom and share all the good things with each other

Greetings from Holland/The Netherlands

Shalom Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada April 25, 2019

Opposites Unite For Me In this world we are controlled by one force.
We are a slave to our will to absorb all that benefits me. In this state G_d allows me a tiny restricted amount of His bounty - the trivial 'treasures' in this world.

After we effort to exit our self-desire, G_d awards us a second force.
His force of giving.

Then with the help of these two forces I build my spiritual 'I'.
I am merited to rise to each higher level in His world when I find the proper balance between these forces:
I receive His Pleasures only to the extent that I bring contentment to Him.
This is the goal of Creation - to be in perfect adhesion or 'dvekut' with G_d.
Then He can pour all the abundance and goodness He wishes for us when we are in this special partnership with Him. G_d's abundance can flow between us.

Together with these two forces we have built the Temple - a system that is perfect, eternal and spiritual Reply

Michele Francis USA March 30, 2021

in response to Brenda:

Absolutely, Brenda. Our Exodus is from this world system, as G-d has already prepared a way for our escape. It's a narrow path, I am grateful to have discovered it! Reply

jim dallas February 8, 2017

miracles will come, trust HaShem! and keep walking! Reply

James More Seasaw City February 8, 2017

Good grief You are not liberal enough. You need to be for lesbians, gays, abortions, or leave. You are not conservative enough. Get out of here or we will send you back in a body bag. Radicals on the left and radicals on the right. Obstructions and detours. Reply

Jeremy M February 8, 2017

Just yesternigh it turned out that are were two opposite paths that me and a long-time friend had been following...and that the only way to make either one totally work, is through the other.

It's such a strange realization, that it would be easy to just let it go. Thank you for this reminder that that's not an option. Reply

Brett Summerland BC February 8, 2017

opposites attract I read this one a few times. Great point!
If we explore and learn about the opposites G-d created, we will most certainly find freedom. Paradox eventually leads to a discovery of truth. Reply

Anonymous Ohio February 8, 2017

Too many of us get to comfortable and that is where it stays.
I believe growth is best. Walking as though walking out of Egypt still. Don't get comfortable. Reply

Anonymous June 25, 2012

definition There is one definition by others that i have come to accept and that is the definition of a Jew:

When our enemies come for us, they do not ask what kind of Jew you are. A Jew is a Jew.

A Jew is a Jew is not meant here as a tautology. There is no paradox. It is a definition. This context is different from the one you are intending.

In your context no two Jews are the same, since each has his own road in life. To paraphrase your clarification, these differences are especially overt when we seek Hashem. Therein lies the paradox you point out : we cannot know/find Hashem, but we can still seek Him. Practicing mitzvot, prayer and Torah study are a part of the search. I was just thinking that our prophets of ancient times helped get us close in this regard. Abraham and Sarah are examples. And then there is Moses.

I've come a long way since August 6, 2009. Thanks to you. Reply

Gavri Hanita Hazaka Abir Selek 2nd Vancouver, Canada June 25, 2012

Who Else Knows Anyone can be put into some category or another. Some categories are fun to be named while others are too cruel to be uttered. I have been classified as many cruel thing a person can ever utter. It makes me both sad hearted and at times sorrow in heart. I get close to no one for that reason. The different road I take is loneliness. It is the price I gladly pay for I can really only trust in G-D. Reply

David Harold Chester Petach Tikva, Israel March 30, 2021

in response to Gavri Hanita Hazaka Abir Selek 2nd:

I like this reply very much and both sympathize and share in its nature and that of the writer. The lonely road approach is unpopular but it is closer to the truth of uniting opposite trends that the more common belief in something more clearly defined. Reply

Katrin June 25, 2012

Everyone don't miss out on the link below :-) Thanks, Rabbi Tzvi, for the link. Now it also makes sense to me why even the road of wisdom, that Luis mentioned below, must be filled with contradictions :-)
Now I will go ahead and examine my life and check out if it has been too straight maybe.... Reply

David Levant Emerson, N.J. June 25, 2012

Paradox and discovery Rabbi,I disagree.Although there are many paradoxes in life,so are there answers.If one truly seeks out G-D they will surely find him.His spirit lives in the heart-it cannot be seen-but it can be felt there.It's hard to describe how the feeling touches the heart,but the feeling is special and eternal.Although hard to define,the feeling sounds like"chimes in a song." One should "listen"for it everyday, Reply

Eugina G Herrera New York, New York June 25, 2012

Good Example That is so True. Reply

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