In this week’s Torah portion, Matot-Masei, we recall our travels from Egypt through the desert. Names of destinations are listed, and each stopping point named.

Honestly, listening to this list of “vacation” spots made me a little envious of our people’s ability to move around without too much fear of a pandemic. Of course, they had other fears, but they successfully made their way from Egypt to the Promised Land.

While we can limitedly recount our physical journeys this summer, like making it to the grocery store in person, this Torah portion reminds us that it is important to stop and recall where we have been and where we are heading.

There are days when we may need to just stop and think about the distance you personally have journeyed throughout the pandemic. You may have gone from fear to courage and then back to fear. You may have gone from sadness to joy and back again. You may have gone from hopeful to despair and back again. You may have gone from loneliness to love and back again.

Take note of where you have been, where you have gone, and where you have returned. Know that recognizing all of these twists and turns of the journey are part of what will help us reach the Promised Land…a place where we can feel spiritually and emotionally free to be safe, to be held, and to be embraced.

While our doors are not open for worshipping in person, we are on every Friday night at 6:00 p.m. on our website, and on Facebook Live. Do not forget to join us for Zoneg every Friday night at 8:00 p.m.

If you need extra support with this journey, please reach out to me or to Rabbi Sussman. We want to help you through these challenging times. Also, just as our ancestors before us, they journeyed together, stage by stage as one strong and loving community. Let us join together this coming Shabbat with “Hazak, Hazak, V’nitchazeik”- “Be Strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another!”