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The Torah repeatedly portrays transformative journeys where departure from home signifies not just a physical relocation but a profound spiritual evolution. We saw this with Abraham and Sarah in Parashat Lech Lecha a few weeks ago, and this week we see it in Parashat Vayeitzei with Jacob, their grandchild. In Lech Lecha, G!D commands Abraham: “Go forth from your land, your birthplace, and your father’s house, to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1) Abraham’s departure is a leap of faith. He leaves behind the familiar to establish a covenantal relationship with God. This journey symbolizes the move from comfort to challenge, from the known to the unknown, as Abraham becomes the father of a nation. Jacob’s journey begins under different circumstances. Fleeing from the wrath of Esau, Jacob embarks on a path filled with uncertainty: “And Jacob left Be’er Sheva and went toward Haran.” (Genesis 28:10)

October 7th has upended so much of what we thought we knew about Israel and our role as Jews in the United States. From the shaking of our assurance that Jews are safest in Israel, to the collapse of our confidence that antisemitism is a thing of the past in America, much of what we thought we knew about Israel and the Jewish people has been forced under scrutiny. The ever-evolving news cycle has been disorienting and the barrage of anti-Israel critique from international organizations and on college campuses has made some of us question whether we ever really made it as citizens of the world.