Storytelling: Judaism’s greatest gift

Joshua Woolf, Grade 11, King David Victory Park

Storytelling: Judaism’s greatest gift

“Remember those days of old; reflect upon the years of other generations. Ask your father, and your elders, they will tell you.” Devarim, Parshat Ha’azinu:7

Eighteen months have passed since the horrific scenes of Simchat Torah 5784, yet as I tune into the countless stories being told by witnesses and victims, I recall the gut-wrenching headlines as if the words, feelings, and thoughts were in front of me.

One item of extreme significance regarding Pesach is the haggadah. It is a compilation of precise procedures and particular processes and a core part of the seder. On a basic level it is a means to dwell on the tale of our exodus from Egypt. We go through the exact physical acts and feelings which our ancestors experienced via the unique form of storytelling in the haggadah. Whether it be maror or matzah, the story is one of struggle, hardship, and redemption.

The Jewish people’s ongoing struggle for freedom is more visible now than ever before in our lifetime. Destruction of homes and countless families. Settlements left desolate with death-ridden streets. Today, we’re subject to a new form of antisemitism by those who are masters at “retelling” the Jewish tale of persecution. They whirl propaganda to the masses via the media and distort the truth of our narrative. Between fickle ceasefires and the parading of hostages’ dead bodies, Hamas continues its brutality to this day. They are holding innocent people hostage.

We call for their immediate release.

Despite all the hardship we have incurred, we continue to grow through suffering. Telling our story and passing the terror and triumph to the next generation is a tradition deeply rooted within the Jewish religion. It’s important to listen to and remember the brutal stories of hostages and victims of 7 October. We won’t be silent, and we will never forget. We’ll tell and retell these stories just as we have for thousands of years.

As you set your seder table, create matzah balls, and revise our swift exit from Mitzrayim, keep in mind that you embody the rare characteristic of Jewish resilience, a trait which humanity cannot take away from the Jewish people.