Modern Slavery in the Land of the Free?
By almost every material measure, Americans today enjoy extraordinary affluence and freedom. Technological advancements have opened endless career paths, flexible work arrangements, remote access, and unprecedented comfort. Yet recent studies, including the World Happiness Report, reveal a striking paradox: despite these advantages, Americans—especially younger generations—report declining happiness and a diminished sense of freedom.
The lines between work and home, productivity and rest, connection and distraction have blurred. Many people feel perpetually “on call,” tethered to their jobs, inboxes, and social media feeds. In the pursuit of success, status, or security, work and technology quietly begin to dominate life rather than enhance it.
This week’s Torah portion, Shemot, offers a timeless lens through which to understand this tension.
We learn about a new chapter in Jewish history: the beginning of slavery of the Jewish people in Egypt which preceded their eventual exodus.
As the verse states, “So the Egyptians enslaved the children of Israel with backbreaking labor. And they embittered their lives with hard labor, with clay and with bricks and with all kinds of labor in the fields, all their work that they worked with them with backbreaking labor (Exodus 1:13-14)”.
The Torah describes the Jewish people’s descent into slavery in Egypt as “backbreaking labor.” The Talmud explains that this was not merely difficult work, but labor with no clear limit or purpose—work designed to keep a person endlessly occupied without the satisfaction of achievement. The Jews were forced to build on unstable ground, ensuring constant rebuilding and denying them the dignity of meaningful productivity.
This, the Torah teaches, is the essence of slavery: the loss of autonomy and purpose.
As the Jewish people gradually absorbed the Egyptian definition of success, they became increasingly bound by societal pressures and expectations. In time, this erosion of inner autonomy made them vulnerable to external control, ultimately allowing the Egyptians to enslave them.
Slavery does not exist only in chains. It can take modern forms—work that never ends, expectations that never pause, and digital platforms that demand constant attention. Even prestigious, well-paid work can become “backbreaking labor” when it consumes every corner of life. The same is true of social media, where endless scrolling, comparison, and validation quietly drain time, focus, and inner freedom.
Studies show that younger Americans, in particular, feel less free not because of a lack of choice, but because of constant pressure—economic uncertainty, social comparison, and unreasonable expectations. Affluence without boundaries often produces anxiety rather than fulfillment.
The Torah is not merely history, but a guide for meaningful living. Indeed, the word "Torah" shares roots with the word "Hora'ah," meaning guidance. Its lessons, given by G-d, endure across generations and remain pertinent to every individual. The Tanya, a foundational work on Kabbalah & Chassidut, teaches that every person possesses two souls: the animal soul, driven by impulse and emotion, and the G-dly soul, guided by intellect and values. True freedom lies in moach shalit al halev (lit. the brain controls the heart)—allowing our higher understanding and values to govern our desires.
When we reconnect with our core values, we regain control. Work becomes meaningful rather than consuming. Technology becomes a tool rather than a master.
Practically, this freedom is nurtured through intentional living: setting aside uninterrupted time for family, dedicating moments to Torah study and prayer, giving Tzedakah (charity), and gathering for Shabbat dinners free of digital distraction. These choices anchor us in what truly matters and restore balance to our lives. Though they may seem minor, such practices clarify our priorities and help ensure that work, money, technology, and time do not control us—but instead become tools we consciously use for positive and meaningful ends.
The Rebbe, M.M. Schneerson, taught that the industrial, technological, and digital revolutions are a preparation for redemption. When used properly, they enable unprecedented good—economic growth, global connection, medical advances, education, and limitless acts of kindness.
Maimonides describes the Messianic era as a time when abundance flows freely and competition and envy fade away. The tools are already in our hands. The question is whether we will use them with wisdom—or allow them to enslave us.
May we learn from Shemot to recognize modern forms of bondage, reclaim our inner freedom, and live lives of purpose, balance, and holiness. And may we merit the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.
