The Mystery of You. Adin Steinsaltz

historical foundations of Jewish existence and is a focal point of Jewish belief. It is also one of my favourite places: a very spiritual place.

      My children and now also my grandchildren are the continuity of my people. We are alive and we are living a Jewish existence. To me, this is the ultimate which life has to offer.

      Towards the end of the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 29:9-14, 21; 30:19-20) we are told in no uncertain terms:

      You are thus being brought into the covenant … He is establishing you as His nation, so that He will be a G-d to you … but, it is not with you alone hat I am making this covenant … I am making it both with those who are standing here with us today before G-d our Lord and with those who are not (yet) here with us today … A future generation, consisting of your descendants, who rise up after you, along with the foreigner from a distant land … (you must thus make the choice) to love G-d your Lord, to obey Him and to attach yourself to Him. This is your sole means of survival and long life when you dwell in the land that G-d swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, (promising) that He would give it to them.

      G-d has guaranteed us that the Jewish people will survive to the end of time.

      Who defines our Jewish identity: is it we ourselves, or others? How does our individuality fit in with the group? How does our group relate to us? Which group? Who defines the identity of the group?

      Continuity – of what?

      What for?

      What do you want to be a part of?

      What do you think? What works for you?