Why I Love Reading History

by Audrey Lichter

Life is messy, complicated, and overwhelming. Try as  I might to understand contemporary issues, I am overwhelmed by so much information and mostly by so many opinions about the information. I have taken to reading biographies of famous Jews in an attempt to gain some understanding of their lives and contributions and what they felt about the state of things as they lived it. The last three biographies I read were Leon Blum , the first Jewish socialist of France,  (1872-1950), Moses Mendelsohn, a German philosopher and theologian ( 1729-1786), and Ze’ev Jabotinsky, Russian born, author, poet, soldier and founder of Revisionist Zionist Movement and the Jewish Self Defense Organization, (1880-1940).

There are a number of lessons I have learned already. One, is that these people who are remembered in the archives of Jewish history often felt defeated and questioned if they have been successful at all.  The phrase “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it” is a well-known teaching from Pirkei Avot (Ethics of Our Fathers), specifically chapter 2, mishnah 16. This aptly applies to them, since unbeknownst to them in many ways , their work was carried on by others long after they were gone.

…holding our opinions while having a little doubt I think is a good thing.

Another lesson I have learned is one of humility. None of us have a crystal ball, and none of us knows for sure if what we hold as true is indeed the right opinion or the right  course of action.  So, holding our opinions while having a little doubt I think is a good thing. It keeps us open to hearing others and perhaps fine tuning our opinions as a result. Finally, I have learned how good our lives as Jews have been during my lifetime. Reading about Jewish life in the 1700’s in Europe or the virulent anti-semitism of the 20th century, I realize the post WWII years up to this point have been glorious ones for the flourishing of Jewish life. I am sure there are many more lessons  I will learn from reading history and I look forward to sharing them with you. In the meantime, Chag Sameach as we recall the Exodus from Egypt and all we can learn from re-telling this story from our history  every year.