History gives us a context in which to better appreciate the world around us. For example, knowing American history gives people a better appreciation of the freedom and opportunity that our nation affords its citizens. The “land of the free and the home of the brave” has given the Jews, in particular, the opportunity to rebuild as a nation, especially since the Holocaust.

The Torah this week provides us with the means for keeping the Jewish heritage alive, as well. Moshe tells those assembled before him to remember the awesome scene when G-d descended from heaven atop Mt. Sinai to give His Torah to the Jewish People. Those standing before him had witnessed that momentous event with their own eyes. Moshe now charged them to retell this experience to their children so that they, in turn, ill transmit what they heard to their children, and so on, for generations to come.

Our belief in the Revelation at Sinai is based on this unbroken transmission from parents to children from generation to generation. In essence, therefore, Judaism’s belief in G-d isn’t based on blind faith. It is based on facts that have withstood the test of time, passed from one generation to the next since our birth as a nation.

Our mission is to proudly cherish our national history and ensure that we transmit it to future generations, for that is the way our heritage will be preserved. One must know the past to appreciate the present and hope for the future. If we sever our bond with the past, it leaves us virtually no leg to stand on today as a people.

Jonathan Rosenblum, a Jerusalem Post columnist, brings home this point with the following anecdote:

Salah Tamari, a former Palestinian terrorist, told Israeli journalist Aharon Barnea of the complete transformation he underwent in an Israeli prison. While in prison, he had completely despaired of any hope that the Palestinians would one day realize any of their territorial dreams, and so he was ready to renounce the struggle.

Then, one Passover, he witnessed his Jewish warder eating a pita sandwich. Tamari was shocked, and asked his jailer how he could so unashamedly eat bread on Passover.

The Jew replied: 'I feel no obligation to events that took place over 2,000 years ago. I have no connection to that.'

That entire night Tamari could not sleep. He thought to himself: 'A nation whose members have no connection to their past, and are capable of so openly transgressing their most important laws - that nation has cut off all its roots to the Land.'

He concluded that the Palestinians could, in fact, achieve all their goals. From that moment, he determined 'to fight for everything,” Because opposing us is a nation that has no connection to its roots, which are no longer of interest to it.'

Tamari goes on to relate how he shared this insight with 'tens of thousands of his colleagues, and all were convinced.'

Our enemies understand the importance of preserving our heritage. Do we?