ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the nature of obligation by considering the binding of Isaac, and the principle of lishmah – fulfilling commands because they were commanded and discusses the freedom. The order of the relation of the concepts may appear to be in the reverse for Immanuel Kant and in Judaism. While for Kant autonomy is obligation, in Judaism obligation is freedom. An archetype of acceptance of obligation to God is the akedah story: the tale of the binding of Isaac. The central Jewish narrative and mythos of the Covenant at Sinai thus entail both obedience and autonomous consent. Obligation has been shown to bear elements of freedom and may only arise from freedom, but further: obligation is said to bring freedom. The primacy of obligation in Jewish tradition has been seen, with the Covenant setting forth divine law. Judaism considers the human to bear free will. Freedom brings with it moral responsibility.
