Last week on Shabbat morning Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov was released after spending 498 days in captivity.

One of the first things Alexander did was to thank G-d for his miraculous survival and eventual freedom. On that first Sunday morning, after his release, Alexander put on tefillin and prayed with the assistance of Rabbi Berel Lazar, the chief Rabbi of Russia. This was the first time that Alexander had ever wrapped tefillin. In addition to being a moment of joy and gratitude, it was also like a Bar Mitzvah ceremony.

It’s amazing to see how the  Parsha of the week connects with current events.

One of the themes of the Parsha is the discussion about slavery. While there are many laws in this regard, the Torah makes it clear that freedom from slavery is the ultimate goal.

Even if someone would rather be a slave, the Torah very much discourages this, and tries to dissuade the person from choosing such a life.

This reminds us of the power of our freedom. We should never take it for granted.
Let’s utilise our freedom to do goodness and kindness.
It’s a gift that can’t be squandered. The more we use it towards bringing more light to the world, the more we will appreciate it.

Just like how Alexander thanked G-d for his freedom, moments after being released, we can do the same. Some of our brothers and sisters are still waiting to get that freedom.

We hope and pray for their safety and return home. May it happen very soon.