A story is told of two writers who rushed to the study of the famous Ruzhiner Rebbe, they wanted him to write the preface to their respective books, one on Jewish law, the other on Jewish stories. The attendant was sure that the rebbe would see the writer of law first, but he checked with his rebbe first. The rebbe told him that he would see the storyteller first. “Our Torah begins with stories. Were it not for the stories, the mitzvot that follow would simply not stick.”
Stories have a wonderful way to bring a value to life. Torah comes to life, when we pay attention to the stories and the lives of those who were molded by our sacred values. It opens us up to be shaped and influenced by their example.
This week we begin the story of our Patriarch and Matriarch, Abraham and Sarah. The stories of the Torah span the upcoming ten to fifteen Torah portions. Take the time to absorb them. Read them to your children (some great resources here), re-read them yourself at shabbat service (more on that here). Pick up some new insights and commentary as you go along.
It's been said: Others may tell stories to their children to put them to sleep, we tell stories to our children to keep them awake!