This beautiful Midrash story about the guarantors of Torah illustrates why we have committed to sign the Book of Life.

Moses told the Israelites that G-d wanted to give them the gift of Torah and then proceeded to ascend Mount Sinai to accept the offering. However, Moses returned from the mountain empty-handed, explaining to the Israelites that G-d wanted a guarantee that they wouldn’t only accept the gift but would live consistently by its teachings. Moses made two more trips up the mountain, one with jewels and the other with valuable possessions, but G-d still wasn’t pleased. However after much spirited discussion, a mother cried out that our children, our most precious possessions, should be our guarantors. At that moment, G-d realized that the Israelites were truly worthy of receiving Torah. Moses happily returned carrying two large stone tablets that shone with the words of G-d. Since that time, the children of Israel have listened to the words of Torah and taught them to their sons and daughters, there by passing the light from one generation to another.

As in the Midrash story, to help assure that our children will continue in their role as guarantors of Torah, we commit to doing our part by supporting our Jewish community through the giving of tzedakah during our lifetime and after we are gone. We feel responsible to help preserve and secure our Jewish heritage, as well as to model this for our daughter, Rebecca. We are confident that she, in turn, will serve as a role model for her children in the years to come.

Just as the Israelites made the commitment to teach the words of the Torah to their precious children, by signing the Book of Life, we hope to do our part to assure the passing of Torah from one generation to another.