In this talk, Miriam Shaviv shows that the idea of an “authentic” Jewish tradition, unbroken and unchanged for 2,000 years, is a myth which stems from our lack of familiarity with the history of Judaism (as opposed to the history of the Jews, which is widely studied). Although we are a people who claim to revere history, we seem to prefer myths. She examines why this is the case, and argues that Orthodoxy must become much more familiar with and honest about its past, if it wants to secure its future. Shaviv is a Jewish Chronicle columnist, co-director of an online marketing agency and founding member of the Partnership Minyan