The year following October 7th was filled with an entire genre of literature: Memoirs, narrative, and Torah commentary. One such book was called A Difficult Beginning: A Post-October 7th Commentary On The Book of Genesis.

Each parsha is seen as a commentary to a post-October 7th world. Rabbi Fred Klein looks at Parshat Lech Lcha, and asks, “What was the purpose of Abraham’s journey? What challenges did he face along the way?” He suggests that Abraham, the first monotheist, would become a great nation, not by the amount of children and grandchildren he produced, but by those who would follow his lead in thought. Yet, Abraham, like all of us, had doubts. Would his argument of a compelling Jewish narrative be enough to convince those from Sodom? Abraham’s revolution was a revolution of the heart, and it took all those he came into contact with to enact. As we are well aware, there are those who still see us as strangers in the land. Yet, we also know there has been an outpouring of love during these most difficult times.

The stories continue to be told, and we must continue to retell.

This Sunday, we have an opportunity to do so, as we screen the HBO miniseries One Day In October. We will be joined by Sinai Temple member, Executive Producer, and Head of Fox Entertainment Studios Fernando Szew, along with NOVA survivor Aya Meydan, and actress Naomi Levov. We will engage in listening and learning, and then it will be our responsibility to tell. Abraham’s journey thousands of years ago changed the trajectory of the world, and because of his strength, we are blessed today. Let us be the next Abraham; we will tell not only the stories of grief and sorrow, but those of resilience and hope, so that 1,000 years from now, our descendants will tell our stories, too.