Parashah of the week: Mattot-Massei

Yet the interpretation of Torah is the role of the experts who have the necessary experience and degree of knowledge. As the Rambam writes, even at Mount Sinai the Torah was understood on different levels by different people, hence different groups occupying different positions: Moses ascended the mountain, Joshua halfway, the elders a bit below and the nation at the foot.

This is expressed in the way Judaism regards different generations. In honouring parents — and to some extent in respecting elders — we recognise that they are the link in our golden heritage chain and responsible for transmission to the next generation, a key time for this being Seder night.

For this transmission to remain intact it is crucial that we are aware of generational change. What worked educationally and experientially for previous generations cannot be simply copied and pasted blindly for the current generation.

When searching for truth is replaced by searching for relevance or pleasure, new methods of packaging the same enduring Jewish “product” need to be rolled out. No longer can younger generations be told “they have a duty” or “Come to shul, that’s what we did growing up”; they don’t “just do”, they need positive reasons to do it.

With new challenges and methods of communication shaping the way people process information, these all need to be catered to, otherwise our link in the timeless chain is in danger of corrosion.