Freedom as Awareness
This essay examines one of the most enduring theological paradoxes in biblical literature—the hardening of Pharaoh's heart—through the interpretive lens of the Me'or Einayim of Chernobyl (R. Menachem Nachum Twersky, 1730–1797), a foundational text in early Hasidic thought. The biblical narrative presents a profound dilemma: if God hardens Pharaoh's heart, how can Pharaoh be held morally accountable for his refusal to release the Israelites? This apparent contradiction between divine determinism and human free will has troubled exegetes across centuries, generating diverse rabbinic, philosophical, and mystical responses. The essay argues that the Rebbe’s reading offers a radical reframing of the problem by transforming it from a moral question into a metaphysical revelation about the nature of consciousness, concealment, and divine presence.