No Reason to Be Simple

Why do people tell stories? I’ll tell you a story.
It was a stormy, moonless night and two men - one foolish, the other wise - groped their way through the dark, gloomy forest. With no source of illumination whatsoever, they were hopelessly lost. Suddenly, there was a deafening crash of thunder and a brilliant flash of lightning.
The simpleton looked up to admire the spectacle. The wise man exploited the brief moment of light to get his bearings.
A good story is like a flash of lightning. For some, it is nothing more than a display, and as the glimmer of the spectacle fades, so does the memory of the story. For others it is a tool to be utilized, a lesson that can light a path through the dark existence. Once employed, the story and its lesson become self-perpetuating.
... As soon as he got his bearings, the wise man guided his foolish companion to the charred remains of the tree trunk struck by the lighting. Working together, they revived the still glowing embers and soon they had a blazing campfire going.
All night long by the warmth of the fire, the wise man taught the fool the secrets of his knowledge. And when the sun rose the following morning, the simpleton was no longer simple.
This Chassidic story is allegorical. Torah narrative however, is not. It is the history of our past and more importantly, a lesson for our future survival.
Without a doubt, the destruction of both our Temples and the subsequent expulsion of our people from our homeland contain all the essential elements of a good story: drama, heroes, villains, action, and a heartbreaking climax. The images it evokes constitute a spectacle to behold. Still for many of us, the memories of those fateful days grow dim. And so each year we are enjoined to sit on a low stool, read Jeremiah’s heart rending Lamentations and thus retell the story of Tisha b’Av in all its gory detail.
This year, the story of the ninth day of Av will be retold in your local synagogue. Go and hear a tale of courage and senseless hatred. This page from our history is guaranteed to leave you humbled and mesmerized. Relive the experience. Perpetuate the message. Discover the secret knowledge for our survival.
There is no reason to be simple any more.