The art of storytelling

Hello, you there!

Today I would like to discuss with you a great passion I believe is worth sharing: the art of storytelling.

Now, of course, we all love a good story now and then, but there is more to it.

First, let me introduce myself: I am a young but passionate film director and I have grown up in an orthodox family in one of the religious neighbourhoods of Jerusalem, Israel.

verhalen vertellen chabad on campus

At the age of 16, I became fascinated by how people perceive things differently. I found it interesting to see people listening to a song and interpreting the initial lyrics differently from the initial verses. Same for books, movies, newspapers, Talmud, Torah and other religious matters. I was always taught to believe that there could only be one form of truth. Despite this, I learned that I was wrong in my short life journey because the truth is subjective.

I searched and found that there should be more than one side to a story.

I’ve learned that we all can create our own stories and reshape them any time we want.

However, there is one more thing I have learned: the purpose of expression; the urge for it, its necessity as part of our being. I learned how our stories make or break our perception of life. The interesting thing about truth is that for one person it is the complete truth, while another perceives it entirely different. A challenge for some and a “piece of cake” for others.

I have learned that we must first listen to what we think, before hearing and absorbing information from another. First, listen to ourselves and afterwards to others, even if it makes no sense to our personal perception.

One of the things I love about storytelling is how we can all see ourselves in each other’s stories. I find interesting the way we can relate or identify with certain behaviour or an expressed emotion and still be able to reject elements and perspectives that don’t fit our vision. It fascinates me that the characteristics of a story are changed purely to justify our right, regardless of whether there is a grain of truth in it. After all, people need to change a story purely so that it falls within their narrative to prove their own side right.

nissim khalifa storytelling chabad on campus

Yet I believe that the real power of storytelling is to create life within our own characters. It is about bringing people together and aiming for better communication, about revealing secrets, learning to cry and laugh at the same time.

Now you tell me a story.

Nissim Khalifa
Nissim Khalifa was born in Bnei Brak, but later grew up in Jerusalem. He aspires to become a successful film director and enjoys sharing his dreams and passion with the Chabad On Campus community.

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