15/16 October 2021, 9/10 Cheshvan 5782

“Leave your land, your birthplace and your father’s house and go to the land that I will show you. (Gen. 12:1)” We talk a great deal about this portion of Lech Lecha symbolising change, redirection and courageous new moves. Avram and Sarai were told to move from all that was familiar to a place initially unrecognisable. They are promised blessing and abundance on doing so. Robert Frost ‘s poem captures the choice of paths we all take:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I’m interested that we applaud this biblical couple’s bravery yet contemporary migration and moving to new lands can be fraught with suspicion and a reluctant welcome.

The idea of moving and changing one’s life is an old one. It gives us pause this week to consider attitudes to those that move because they know they must for a safe life of blessing.

And that is good. Conversation with Torah should give us pause and opportunity to consider life; our own and others. Next week we have an opportunity to protest peacefully against the new Borders Bill that threatens such migration we read Abraham and Sarah undertaking.
Everything is connected.

You’ll see some of us are gathering at the Refugee Welcome Solidarity march next Wednesday-see below. If you are bringing coats to FPS, please bring hangers too. Many thanks.

Shabbat shalom,
Rebecca

AFTERNOON RALLY- BORDERS BILL
Refugee Welcome Rally,
[Meet at the Millicent Fawcett Statue 4pm]
Wednesday 20th October, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Parliament Square, London SW1P 3. Join with other FPS members and LJ folk to stand up for refugee rights, spread the message that refugees are welcome here and protest against the cruel and unfair new Nationality and Borders Bill. Just when the UK needs to uphold its commitments to refugees, the new Bill is progressing through parliament and moving closer to becoming law. Come and join us to show solidarity with refugees.