Winter ‘26/Spring ‘26

The Stories We Tell

This past month I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with Holocaust survivors (1G, 2G, and 3G), along with history students from two local high schools, friends at the George Gottlieb Institute, Posnack JCC, Guitars Over Guns, and local musicians on a Songwriting/Storytelling residency, which utilized as its content, survivor testimony and student input. The story we told involved collective memory of many traumas – some from long ago and some present to this day. The process was fast-paced, emotional, and highly rewarding. The students and survivors also participated in recording parts of the song in our mobile studio upon completion of the writing session. “You Can Be a Candle” is the name of the song, which should be released later in the spring – perhaps on Yom Hashoah. The song’s message, while sharing a horrible story, is hopeful. This was intentional because the stories we tell ourselves – and those we tell the world – guide us, direct us, down a path. 

The question is, do we choose a path of victimhood and hold deep to that anger and grief, or do we choose the path of light and hope for the future? We can choose the second path without sacrificing the integrity of our various trauma stories. We can either “live in” the darkness that life’s situations have provided us at times, or we can “live in” the light that can be created each and every day by making the choice to be kind to all and reach out a hand to those in need whenever and wherever they cross our paths (regardless of who they are). In following the path of light we are, in our own small way, bending a tiny portion of the world into better shape. What story do you tell yourself about how you spend your days?

As we approach Purim and Pesach, we look back at the stories that the heroes of these two epic experiences may have told themselves when facing various forks in the road. Esther could have been a wilting flower; she could have chosen the path of least resistance, with safety and creature comforts. But instead, she utilized her position of power, of influence, even at potential risk to herself, and helped to save her people.  

Moses certainly didn’t have it easy, and his role as a leader didn’t always follow a straight line. However when the chips were down, he chose to tell and create a story of fortitude, faith, and persistence. And we know the rest. 

What is the story you tell yourself every day? Are you going to be a force for good – even just by keeping the peace in your own home? On your own street? What story do we tell ourselves at TBE of Hollywood about ourselves?  Are we a light for one another? Is that all we are, or do we evolve beyond our own bubble, our own insulation as a congregation, and reach beyond to do good in the community – being an “ally” to others in a non-transactional way? That’s the story I certainly want to tell. Let’s do as much good as possible, even if it means getting a bit uncomfortable. As a matter of fact, sometimes feeling a bit of discomfort is the only way to know one is doing the work.

Blessings to you and yours,

Jeff