There is a lot of talk today about how we live in a mobile society. We travel everywhere. My colleagues say, and I agree, that Jews have traveled to visit and to live in almost every country in the world. We move from city to city, state to state. The moving companies tell us that a family will move an average of seven times.
Many families are already well beyond that number.
Still, in spite of all the moving around, we find that we still hope to live a settled life in a place we can call home. We feel a call to be near family if we can, but also, to develop friendships and the sense of community that can bring stability and continuity to our lives. As Jews, a people forced many times from their homes because of prejudice and lies, our religion has developed a certain portability. We stress our common ties of ritual and liturgy. Today, we wish to honor, those who have come to our synagogue, who have enjoyed the welcome they received here, and who have decided to join us as a part of our community.