“And this is what you shall bring upon the Altar: Two one-year-old male sheep every day.” (Shemos 29:38)

In honor of its national birth Israel placed itself before G-d as “sheep of His flock”; more it only attained its national existence by giving itself up forever to G-d as its shepherd.... It shall never imagine that it has grown out of having to be led by the guidance of its Shepherd it shall remain eternally young shall eternally face G-d as in the first year of its existence eternally go to Him as the “one-year-old lamb of His flock.” (Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch  Commentary on the Torah)

Feel yourself as one of those tiny sheep.

A tiny little sheep only one year old. The surrounding air is fragrant; the grass a giant carpet of lush greenery. A tiny lamb bleats as it prances in the field among the sheep. The world is beautiful. Never does she worry if the well will be filled with thirst-quenching water never does she fear that the shepherd’s staff will be lost. Never does she fear losing her way. The shepherd watches her guarding and guiding her carefully.

If the shepherd catches her wandering off path or standing frozen at the top of a cliff; he will hear her bleating and lovingly carry her back home. The shepherd’s sweet voice envelops her in love and comfort tighter than the warm blanket of wool surrounding her body.

The Rambam expounds upon Maseches Tamid that the lamb of the Tamid [offering] was not bound but only held by the Kohanim by its fore and hind legs ... because by tying it up they would be “acting in the matter of the other nations.” (ibid.)

The holiest of men among the nations are the self-flagellating celibate monks and hermits men of the church and other religions. They live simple lives abstaining from “base pleasures” such as family children and picnics in the forest. They do not live in regular houses isolating themselves in tall monasteries surrounded by deathly silent walls of stone.

What a contrast the “lamb” in Jewish symbolism is to the “lamb” in another non-Jewish conception. Ours is the happy joyful virile unblemished lamb in eternal freshness of youth that finds its constant happiness and fullness of life just in giving itself up to the guidance of its Shepherd in contrast to that idea which sees in the “lamb” the symbol of passive suffering and endurance without resistance. (ibid.)

As sheep to the slaughter. Silent as a lamb. These phrases demonstrate the universal attitude — a flock is a group of people devoid of personal will desire or aspiration. When faced with suffering or death they remain silent submissively accepting their fate. The sheep in the Beis HaMikdash was neither bound nor tied but rather guided on its own four legs to counter the nations’ view of a sleep being led to the slaughter.

We are very much inclined to find in this non-Jewish way of looking at the symbolism of the lamb that point of view which is to be opposed by the particular item of the ritual in question. Not the lamb tied hand and foot but the lamb as the free living creature .... giving itself up freely to the lead and guidance of its Shepherd and only in such devotion finding true freedom and true life. (ibid.)

A Jew is a sheep — neither bound nor coerced neither tortured nor wretched.

The media perpetually seeks to portray us as narrow-minded subjugated creatures without opinions or free will. They are wrong! I am anything but a coerced woman. I am free young jubilant. I am embraced by the love of my Shepherd in His endless compassion and eternal goodness.

I am no prisoner or nun. I have never inflicted pain or mortification upon myself. I have never isolated myself behind walls of stone or even towers of heavy tomes. I am alive! Come to my house and watch me laugh in times of joy and cry in times of sadness. My life is full. Meaningful. Complete.

Of my own desire I tread eternally upon the straight path marked by the Great Shepherd leading to the endless green pastures of Olam HaBa. Of my own choice I submit to the Master of the universe and allow Him — and Him alone — to absolve me of my worries and fears. I walk freely my heart singing as I bind myself eternally to my loving Shepherd.