I am having real bad luck with tickets lately. Just this morning I double parked on 95th Street. Ninety seconds later, once I had completed my errand, I saw an officer inspecting my car. I jumped in and was about to speed off when he informed me that he had no intention of ticketing me originally, but now that I had nearly slammed my door into him, he changed his mind. And this came two weeks after I received a ticket for receiving too many tickets within a few months! It was all too much, so I decided to go and fight one.
The ticket in question was graciously handed to me last November for talking on my cell phone while driving. As I was waiting for my turn before the judge, the man in front of me requested a trial postponement. When the judge asked him why, after two previous postponements, he required a third one, the man replied simply that his wife had thrown him out the house and his papers were all there!
Later that day as I headed home on the train, I read a newspaper article written by a woman who claims that Manhattan is like an abusive boyfriend. He treats you terribly, robs you of all your money and abuses you, yet you can’t help loving him. Living in Manhattan is the same thing. Rents are extremely expensive, cost of living is exorbitant yet people still love living on this island.
Pesach is traditionally known as the festival of freedom, the celebration of the Israelites’ Grand Redemption from their Egyptian bondage four thousand years ago.
The Torah tells us, “In each generation, every person needs to see himself as leaving Egypt.” In other words, each Jew needs to recreate a mini redemption in his personal life. The word Egypt - “Mitzrayim” shares a root with “meytzarim” - constraints. Egypt in our lives today represents all our limitations, every circumstance that restricts us and holds us back. Some people are stuck in marriages where issues seem non-resolvable; others are sinking in debt, while some struggle through anger and depression. Leaving Egypt means breaking free, doing everything in our power to liberate ourselves - whether that means seeking the necessary therapy or counselling. Only then can we break free of the shackles that tie us down.
I am not suggesting that anybody leave Manhattan. Personally, I love living here and I’m thrilled with all Manhattan has to offer me, most of all, our growing community that lends so much meaning to my life. But I do think that to live in a place that is abusive to you is ludicrous. Life throws so many obstacles in our way, if you are able to rectify at least one, you’ve got to give it a shot.
Regarding my restrictions, I’m still stuck with countless traffic violations. And as for the judge’s decision, you guessed it, I lost the case.
Let us all go out of our current exile and greet Moshiach right now!