With the upcoming Mayoral elections in New York, many Jews are wondering how their relationship to the city may change and whether it is time to relocate. It is certainly not the first time in history that Jews have considered a place home and have later been forced to uproot themselves. Germany, Poland, Russia, Iran, Yemen, Syria, etc. – centers of thriving Jewish life eventually became unwelcoming, dangerous, or even unlivable. It seems that history has always delivered the message to Jews that we should not become too comfortable, for we are not from here and this is not your true home.

In the third portion of the Torah that we read this week, we journey with Abraham, the initial forefather of the Hebrew nation. The very first communication that the Torah records between God and Abraham is a commandment to leave his home. “And the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you”........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)