Lecture: The Unbroken Chain

How Knowing Our Ancient Past Protects Our Tomorrow

Session Length: 60 Minutes

 The great contemporary sage, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, eloquently wrote in his book, The Thirteen Petalled Rose, “The concept of time in the Jewish way of thinking is not one linear flow. Time is a process, in which past, present and future are bound to each other, not only by cause and effect, but also as a harmonization of two motions: progress forwards and a countermotion backward, encircling and returning.” It is with this principle in mind, that we will jump into the seminar-style lecture, The Unbroken Chain. What does our ancient past tell us about our way of life today? To what degree are we affected, both as a nation, as well as individuals, by that which we’ve carried for centuries? In what ways is this positive or negative, constructive or restrictive? And ultimately, how does a deep pride and educational confidence in our ancient past, fortify our sense of identity today, and help us build better and stronger communities? All of these questions and beyond will be explored in our lecture, as we strengthen our hands and prepare to build a better tomorrow, by using the tools and knowledge left to us by our ancestors of days before!