By Rabbi Shmuel Gluck

The Sifri describes how Moshe Rabbeinu, before he died, told Klal Yisroel, “I have to be appreciative to you for keeping the Torah after I die. You too must be appreciative to your children after you die. Because, it is your children who will continue your work.” His message is that Torah’s value is in that it sustains itself for generations. 

The value of Torah, of being Mikadesh Sheim Shomayim isn’t achieved by a bright moment, several consecutive events, or even a few great generations. Its value is only achieved when it is a legacy that is never disrupted. 

This realization should change the way we live our lives and how we raise our children. It isn’t enough for us to appreciate Torah and lament if our children don’t appreciate it. That’s like being a successful businessman only to go bankrupt towards the end of one’s life. There’s no legacy, only a little fun along the way. 

The value of our Torah and our Torah lifestyle is dependent on our ability to continue our legacy to the next generation.

The value of our Torah and our Torah lifestyle is dependent on our ability to continue our legacy to the next generation. Hashem’s plan for this world is not realized with a single individual group or generation. 

We are sandwiched between our Yom Kippur commitment of long-term growth and Simchas Torah, another lifetime commitment. With our renewed appreciation to live a Torah lifestyle, we should include our responsibility to extend it to our children, friends, and those we surround ourselves with. 

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