They sat through the long cold winter night in the old book-lined room. The quiet shadows of grandparents and great-grandparents filled every part of the room with their faith. The two met, and the air grew thick as they disputed each other with the hearty devotion one had for the other, but with savage differences.
Neither of them really wanted to argue today. They were not the same age. Nor were their paths leading to a commonplace. They did not even see the light the same. One saw the soft candlelight, while the other saw the blinding light of the stars. Like moths drawn to light, they felt the irresistible draw.
The father invited his son: “Come to me and I shall wrap you in my light, and change the world for you.”
Their goals were the same, and both sprang from the same stem. Of the same stem but in two different eras – aged father and young son.
Events, like waves of an angry sea, tossed the son into his father’s arms. From old, wise, insightful eyes dropped a quiet tear into silver strands and pleaded: “Tell me, my son, where and how are you living; tell your old father.”
A small, golden-curled beard fluttered, eyes kindled behind glasses, illuminating two bright stars, and a smile lit up a bright young face: “For what reason?” Something like a tremor passed over the face framed in tarnished gold. A small transparent cloud veiled a large white forehead.
“Can you not see or understand what I have told you over and over again?”
Trying not to show hurt or disappointment, the father asked: “Are you still on the same path?”
“Yes, father.”
“So why have you come here? To argue once again?”
“No…. But you will accomplish nothing here.”
“Don’t be my enemy, father. Our ways have parted as times have changed.”
“Yes, but you did not travel mine till the end. Has anything convinced you that my path leads to emptiness and longing? You left it in the middle, uprooted yourself, and started traveling a completely different path.”
The aged father in his quiet old voice continued: “If a wanderer should change directions too often and drift into twisted by-paths, could he ever reach his destination? And what are we here if not confused travelers?”
Then softly with tenderness, the father invited: “Come with me, my son. An old well-known path is mine. Your family has traveled it for millennia, and thanks to them it is without a stumbling block. Every possible pitfall was foreseen by them far into the future.”
To what purpose did they live if you turn aside and abandon the path? Come with me, my son! I have not far to go but will watch your step with my last look. You will travel much farther, drawing the thread and extending the road, our road, and you will shorten the distance between yourself and salvation.
With the sorrow and sadness of millennia: “We still travel that path! We are in the middle of the road. If you should desert me now, I would be cut off and lost. Who will carry on?
“I will, father!”
Sadly the father responded: “You have deserted me.”
“I am younger and can see better. So I take the shortcuts.”
“On unknown roads.”
“What does it matter if one finds what they want?”
“Faith and belief give the sense that there is something in each person that yearns for meaning and mystery. People want to be touched in a spiritual way. They want to explore the meanings of life and travel the adventure of life. The sterile approach you have chosen denies one’s sense of humanity and basic dignity.”
His voice grew Quiet, almost sad: “The sense of mysteriousness and fundamental dignity within each person is where a great deal of moral understanding starts and applies to everything around them. The attack on faith is a sign of the callousness of science and its inability to elicit true feelings. Faith and belief always have an underlying purpose, which is to inspire people and communicate wisdom and values. The spiritual wisdom of past ages has always been transferred mouth to mouth from generation to generation.”
“Your thoughts, father, have clipped the wings of the young. It has stifled growth and exploration of the important things in this world. Faith has no basis in fact. Science is the truth on which the world functions. Simply said, faith is the strong belief in G-d or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual dogmas rather than proof. Science is the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena of the world, not the fantasies of the world was created by mystical magical means as described by religion. Science is a method that mankind can use to gain a greater understanding of the natural universe. It is a search for knowledge through observation. Advances in science demonstrate the reach of human logic and imagination. Religion and faith confuse people and mislead them into a medieval belief that the world is controlled by magics beyond the understanding of everyday people. So mystics, clergy and philosophers need to explain the working of the world.”
A tear fell from the eye of the old father as he whispered: “Your thoughts, my son, are so ridged and callous, lacking substance. Science cannot communicate feelings nor express emotion. It can’t determine what is right and what is wrong or even define order and chaos. The very process of thought cannot define love or beauty. The language of faith provides people with all of these things and much more. The wisdom of faith is just a vehicle to share these ideas and emotions while helping people to grow in their understanding of the world around them. Science may provide the “why”, but faith provides the “what” and “how.”
Father and son debate far into the dark night. The old gray head is burdened with the hard words of his son. He asks, “Can we pray?”
An eruption of laughter bursts forth from the golden-haired son. “Prayer? Life in Heaven? Please, let’s be real. Prayer has no effect upon the world other than enslaving people to superstition. Why do you bother to advance the practice of speaking empty words to an imaginary entity? Everything you advocate is against all aspects of reason and logic. It separates groups and offends people. It’s time you come embrace science and leave the prehistoric views of the world”
“Look, father, a new day is breaking.”
“Listen!”
“Religious beliefs are outdated at a time when we have such a deep understanding of science, but history shows a constant tension between scientific and theological thought. The strength of science is in its dependence on verifiable thought for this reason, society is advancing towards a secular, rational society and culture where religion, at best, is something private but widely viewed as fantasy and superstition. Most people respect science and the benefits it brings to society, such as new technologies and medical treatments, and don’t question it because of its basis on fact. Religion is subjective and filled with flawed concepts since it is based on philosophy – of which very little is based on verifiable facts, just opinion. Most social ills – from bigotry to ignorance – can be blamed on religion. One of the purposes of science is to free people from what they call “religious superstition.” The story posted has no relevance to the discussion of the virtues of science and the failings of religion.”
The old gray father listens intently to the sounds surging in the dawn, soft, gentle, aggressive sounds rising with the waves of fresh dew on a young spring morning.
“Science, with its demand for empirical data, numbers, and as is been quoted many times, facts do not have the ability to communicate ideas or concepts outside of its mathematical induced realities. It is true that science has provided many advancements to today’s society, but its greatest detriment has been its erosion of communication and its inferred characterization that religion is superstition and not fact-based.”
The old man inquires uneasily, “What does it all mean? What does that thundering song mean?”
“Calling us together, to assemble, father. It’s the demand to end inequity and do away this the constraints of superstitious beliefs and faith in fantasies.”
The pained father softly asks as he chokes back tears, “Are you really going to join them?”
Yes. I am, and I’m taking the shortest path.”
This was spoken so evenly, with such an assured smile and tone that they caused the old man to tremble and his lips to stammer, “Taking the shortest distance to where?”
“To the answers of the world!”
“Whose answers?”
“Everybody’s. Yours, father. Farewell! “
The young man leaves the old house, the aged father, and the shadows of great-grandparents from every part of the room with their faith. Left alone in the soft light of the candle, the old man thinks serenely: “I have brought up a son to sow unrest and discord. He will not search for meaning or salvation until a much later time.”
But a moment later, when his eyes fall upon the flickering flame of the candles, flickering and yet leaping heavenward in the wild exultation, he whispers a prayer:
Ribbono shel Olam, Master of the universe, Teach our children always to believe in the power to return to life, to hope, and to You, no matter what pains they have brought their parents and elders have endured, no matter how far they have strayed from You.
Give them the strength to revive Your holy ways in them.
Revive them, Hashem, so they can embrace life once more in joy, in passion, and in peace.
Amen
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)
Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us
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I have battle most of my life with religious identity. My parents viewed Judaism as a culture with old and outdated ideas and encouraged me to be modern. I was lucky that I had Rabbi T as a religious school teacher. Truthfully, I don’t remember much of what he taught, but I remember the many stories he told. After 30 years, I still love to read and hear his stories.
Its hard to believe that I posted so much against the Rabbi’s stories, and then he gathered up my many posts and made a story out of it. Needless to say because the Rabbi was so patient and never once denigrated me, I began to reflect on his responses to me and have changed my views on religion. I know it sounds strange, but I’m honored that he used my words in a story.. All I can say is I wish others could experience the Rabbi the way I have.