“There is much concern about continuity in the Jewish world today.
Achieving continuity is not an end in itself, however.
We must be concerned not only with how to assure continuity, but in why?
That is, what is it that we are so anxious to pass on?
Jewish continuity is a centuries-long relay, in which the “baton” is some manifestation of our special relationship with God.
Abraham and Sarah passed the tradition on to Isaac, and he and Rebecca passed it on to Jacob.
And just as the upcoming runner strides in tandem with his predecessor before the latter completely relinquishes the baton, so, too, each of us — ideally — has the opportunity to share our understanding and appreciation of our tradition with our offspring, before entrusting them to continue the journey.”
From “Galut Bavli – Then and Now” a syndicated column, July 22, 2004