“But his delight is the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Salmo 1: 2
Today, as every year, and since 1963 (at least in Israel), the Chidón Hatanaj or local Bible contest is held at the AMIA Jewish Mutual headquarters. The winner or winners travel to Israel for the Chidón Haolamí (world contest).
Today one of my daughters, Dorana Raquel, participated in it, reaching the finals.
Although he did not win, he had an outstanding participation and a high score, reflecting his titanic effort to study up to fifty chapters of what we call Tanakh, an abbreviation that includes the Pentateuch, the Prophets, and the Writings (other books), which requires perseverance, a lot of time, dedication, memory, and obviously a good dose of self-confidence in front of a jury that tests each contestant.
Both sides of the counter.
The nerves of a father and a mother made me recall when the person writing this was able to win first place in my Hebrew Teachers Seminar in the town of Moises Ville (back in 1977).
And then, with little time to prepare, he obtained fourth place in the national competition (which took place at the now defunct Rambám or Maimónides school on Ayacucho Street in Buenos Aires.
I remember the excitement of Dorana's grandparents, and today she returns this gift to me.
That a chain that begins with my mother Aida K. De Daitch, continues today from generation to generation.
Allow yourself a little pride.
Out of healthy pride. And to repeat what my mother published at that time. A small space, with my photo in the Yiddish weekly Di Presse (founded in 1918 and published until 1994), in which she was able to obtain the first place several decades ago.
Beyond the personal.
And beyond the personal, I try to weave the topic, how Jews strive to study the Torah, which is teaching for the individual and the collective.
Final.
Thank you dear daughter, tzadeket and bat Israel.
For making this generational change.
I know of your enormous heart and your immense knowledge.
We share the same love.
No doubt.
I attach proof of your participation in the contest.
The Eternal legacy, our life and delight, is maintained by those who love the inheritance and greatest wealth of every Yehudi.
They are not bills, they are words and books.
Dr. Natalio Daitch