The secret of Jewish continuity

Recently, I heard a talk by Rabbi A. entitled, "The secret of Jewish continuity and Jewish vitality." Rabbi A began his lecture by reciting the first blessing in the Shemoneh Esrei, "Blessed are you, Lord, our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers."

Rabbi A. then went on to quote the first Passuk in Tehilim which reads, "Happy is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scorners."

The Rabbi explained that the first passuk uses verbs of movement while subsequently, in Tehilim 92, Passuk 13, the tzadik is compared to a palm tree; he grows like a cedar in Lebanon." The Hebrew word used for happy is "Ashrei". Rabbi A. stated that the word "Ashrei" has the same root as the word, Ashurai which is found in Tehilim, Chapter 17, Passuk 5. "Tamoch ahsurai - My steps have held fast." The word "Ashurai" also has the same root as the word, "Asherah" which is found in Devarim, Chapter 16, Passuk 21. "You shall not plant you an Ashera of any tree near the altar of the Lord your G-d, which you shall make.

The secret to Jewish continuity, Rabbi A. went on to explain, is to chart your own steps, while being firmly rooted in the ways of our forefathers. G-d is our G-d, and we have to make our way in our generation and face the challenges unique to us, while remembering that G-d is also the G-d of our forefathers, making it incumbent upon us to follow their traditions and teachings. Finally, Rabbi A. quoted from Rambam regarding the halachos of writing a sefer Torah. "It is a positive commandment foe each and every Jew to write a Torah scroll for himself.... Even if a person's ancestors left him a Torah scroll, it is a Mitzvah to write one himself."

"Why is there a need to write a sefer torah for himself?" asked Rabbi A. He answered that an individual is charged with writing a sefer Torah for the generation in which he lives. The new generation presents challenges not faced by the previous generation and a competent halachic authority must be consulted in how to face the challenges.

Years ago, when I went to seminary in Jerusalem, one of the professors asked us to raise our hands if we were descendants from the Chatam Sofer. A number of girls raised their hands. He then asked us to raise our hands if we were descendants from Moses Mendelssohn. Not one girl raised her hand.

Moses Mendelssohn, who embraced enlightenment and modernity, had grandchildren who left the faith. On the other hand, the Chatam Sofer, whose motto was "Chadash Assur min HaTorah", - That which is new is forbidden - succeeded in having generations following in his path.