“First…wherever you live, it is probably Egypt,” remarks Michael Walzer, philosopher and author of Exodus and Revolution, at the conclusion of his book.  “[S]econd,” he continues,  “…there is a better place, a world more attractive, a promised land.  “[T]hird,” he concludes, …”the way to the land is through the wilderness.”  Our shared national Exodus narrative, … More »

The lives that we live are all about journeys through the desert of time. The journeys that we have already traversed; the journey we are currently engaged in; and the vision of what journeys we hope to embark upon in the future. Throughout Jewish history, the single place of renewal and transformation was the midbar, … More »

God’s first question, as recorded in the Torah, is “Where are you?” (Genesis: 3:9). The Jewish people have strived to answer this question throughout the generations. From Rebbe Nachman of Breslov’s Hassidic assertion, “You are wherever your thoughts are. Make sure your thoughts are where you want to be,” (Lekutei Mohoran 1:21) to the rallying … More »