In this week's parsha, Moshe's farewell song to his people, Moshe urges us to "Remember the days of old; reflect upon the years of [other] generations. Ask your father, and he will tell you; your elders, and they will inform you."
What is the purpose of Moshe's advice?
Rashi explains that we should remember what G-d did to our ancestors. He cites Noah's generation "whom He washed away" with a great flood because they did not change their behavior, even after many pleas and warnings to return to the ways of G-d. Rashi suggests that we should remember history in order to be conscious of what may happen in the future: "Set your heart upon the past and learn its lessons…to be able to recognize for the future." If we study history and remember it, we can impact future events so that we will not repeat past disasters.
We can also look to the past to explain our present. If we are confused, if we cannot understand what is occurring in our world today, if we cannot make sense of what happens to us, we should look back to our history and study the lives of those who came before us.
As parents, we should share our family histories with our children so they can learn from our experience. We should recount our struggles and failures, as well as our successes in overcoming difficult situations. Hopefully, our children will listen, absorb the lessons, and not repeat our mistakes. This time of year is an especially opportune time to explain that everyone makes mistakes, even our Patriarchs and Matriarchs, even Mommy and Daddy. If we do make mistakes, we should admit them, seek forgiveness and make every effort to change our behavior and not make the same mistake twice. We should assure our children that no matter what mistakes they may have made, we still love them and forgive them, as does G-d.
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