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We thank Peter and Debbie Friedmann for their inspiration and support.
We thank Neil and Emily Kishter for their generosity and caring.
Relocating: Long Distance
Inspiration
Jews are often referred to as the wandering people. Jewish history is filled with stories of transition, migration, and dislocation. Tales of long distance moves begin with Abraham and Sarah who are instructed by God to “Lekh L’kha L’artzecha (go to your land).” The exodus from Egypt, the exile to Babylon, the migration of Jews throughout the Roman Empire, and the expulsion of Jews from Spain demonstrate the variety of reasons for long distance moves. While most moves today are motivated by either a job change or retirement, there are always challenges in moving away from friends or family and relocating to a new community. Jewish history is instructive on how to cope with long distance moves. Seek community, join Jewish communal organizations, plant new roots and have faith.
Prayer
May The Road Rise Up To Meet You
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
(celtic blessing)
בָּר֥וּךְ אַתָּ֖ה בְּבֹאֶ֑ךָ וּבָר֥וּךְ אַתָּ֖ה בְּצֵאתֶֽךָ׃
Baruch atah b’voecha uvaruch atah b’tzeitecha.
Blessed shall you be in your comings and blessed shall you be in your goings.
Text
Job 17:9
The righteous keep moving forward,
and those with clean hands
become stronger and stronger.
Genesis 32:1-2
Early in the morning, Laban kissed his sons and daughters and bade them good-by; then Laban left on his journey homeward.
Jacob went on his way, and angels of God encountered him.
When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
Jeremiah 29:4–7
Thus said the God of Hosts, the God of Israel, to the whole community which I exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them, plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there, do not decrease. And seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you and pray to God in its behalf; for in its prosperity you shall prosper.
Poem
New Home
You may have a new address
But we are never far apart
For a friend like you will always be
in my thoughts and in my heart!
Nancy Hughes
Psalm
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel.
Psalm 121:8
God will guard your going and coming now and forever.
Song
In My Life
There are places I’ll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I’ve loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more
John Lennon & Paul McCartney