While davening over the holidays, I had a new experience. As I recited the words of the Amidah and invoked the names of our Patriarchs, no differently than a thousand times before, I had this sense of anticipation that I would soon be reconnected with our ancestors as we begin reading the Torah anew, this Sunday, on Simchat Torah. I imagined a reunion with old relatives and friends, excited to hear their stories again and learn something new.

It doesn’t matter if our patriarchs and matriarchs are historical characters or myths. This reminds me of a story the great Jewish educator Avraham Infeld shared about his father – His father would say, “I’m not sure there is a God, I’m not sure we were ever in Egypt, but I am sure He took us out of there.”

What makes us uniquely human is our ability to tell stories about ourselves. These stories, though perhaps myths, are not fiction. What does matter is that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah feel as if they are our ancestors. When we hear about their challenges and their triumphs, we celebrate and suffer alongside them. These stories resonate with us and have maintained their power over millennia because we can relate to the characters, see ourselves in them and can apply the lessons to our lives. Narratives are one of the strongest tools we have to construct and convey meaning and, therefore, through this process our values and truths.

I am excited to begin reading the Torah again and to be with our ancestors as I reexamine their lives and what they can continue to teach me about what it means to be human, Jewish, and to struggle with God. I am amazed that each year I learn and discover new ideas and learn new details about their lives.

What is extraordinary about our Biblical ancestors is that they are so human. Their imperfect lives and actions make them accessible and relatable. They make mistakes, fall short, and yet they achieve greatness and contribute to the birth and growth of the Jewish people and nation.

Each of our Biblical ancestors had the courage to embrace their journey, in full pursuit of gaining an understanding of how to live as Jews and to settle and build a just and compassionate society in a Jewish homeland.

This journey continues to this day. On our incredible journey we were enslaved in Egypt, freed by God, wandered in the desert, established two kingdoms in Israel, created a rich body of religious and cultural literature, were expelled from Israel, and both flourished and suffered greatly in foreign lands. There was an attempt at total annihilation during the Holocaust followed by the rebirth of the modern State of Israel. Today, Jews live freely in more nations than ever before and contribute greatly to civilization. Still the journey continues.

On Sunday and next Shabbat we will begin this incredible journey again as we read Bereishit in the Torah, even as we continue the “never ending” journey in the present day. How can this great, ancient narrative, our narrative, inform us during this crucial time in history?

I will be listening carefully to the words of the text and observe the actions and choices our ancestors make as I travel with them again both back in time while living my life in the present.

What wisdom can be imparted to encourage me to be a better role model for my family, colleagues, and students? What can I learn as a leader to ensure humility while making courageous decisions to better our school, our community, and the lives around me? And like our ancestors who challenged the inequities, injustices, and corruption of their times, can I find the voice to do the same in my community, for my family, and not sit idly by hoping someone else will speak out?

I am excited to once again, immerse myself in the stories we tell ourselves through Torah and through traditional and modern midrashim (commentary) to strengthen my connections to the Jewish people in my pursuit to deepen the meaning I derive from life – a life bigger than myself – with purpose, love, hope, joy, and action.