Freedom is more important than ever

’Tis the season to write about freedom. It is the central theme in the Haggadah, the story of Passover.

It’s an ongoing theme in my April columns.

There is no better time than the present to think about what freedom means to all of us.

I grew up with abundant freedoms. The freedom to practice my religion in the way that I want to. The freedom to voice my opinions without worry about censorship even during the turbulent ’60s and ’70s. The freedom to choose my own future and my career. I could go to the college of my choosing. I could marry the person of my choosing. I could travel anywhere I wished.

I was taught to use these freedoms for the greater good: Journalism. Education. Tzedakah. Family. Community. I realize that I was fortunate to be able to take advantage of all the blessings of our freedoms.

This meshes with our Judaism, to speak out for those whose voices are silenced and to stand up for the justice and the freedoms we hold so dear.

When I chose a career, it was anchored by freedom – freedom of speech and a free press.

Those are difficult freedoms.

To assure our own freedom of speech, we must hear and protect even those with whom we disagree. Fighting for their rights just as we would our own, even as we feel they are wrong in their perspectives, is vital.

To preserve and protect our freedom of the press, we must support the right and role of journalists to criticize, investigate and confront even those whom we hold dear and support. Respecting the role of journalists as the “Fourth Estate” serves as a brake on power. This includes accepting and protecting perspectives we disagree with in the hope that in an open forum, truth will prevail over falsehood.

Practicing journalism is difficult, too, as we often have the experience of writing a story and then seeing those on both sides of the issue accuse us of bias because we gave voice to those they disagree with. But we understand that every issue has two sides. Or three. Or five. And they all deserve a voice.

We don’t think of journalism as a risky business, but 122 journalists were killed worldwide trying to bring information to their communities in 2024. That makes last year one of the deadliest years for journalists since 1990. They died in helicopter crashes. They died in war zones in Asia, Ukraine and the Middle East. They were murdered because of what they knew, what questions they asked and what they had written. They were killed by drug lords and dictators.

The International Federation of Journalists, which tracks these things, reports that 43 journalists have been murdered in Europe alone since 1990 in cases where the killers went unpunished.

The number of journalists who were jailed around the world also rose by 30% in 2024, rising from 393 in 2023 to 516 last year.

Free speech and a free press are not to be taken lightly. And neither are our other freedoms.

So this Pesach, as you gather with family and friends to retell the story of our liberation from subversion and slavery to freedom and open expression, what new tales might you add about our modern day Exodus? How will you express the importance and fragile nature of our freedoms? How will you teach your children and your community about the powers of freedom?

How will you not only enjoy your freedoms but also protect the freedom of others?

Chag Pesach Sameach!

Fran Ostendorf,

Editor