These are the journeys of the Israelites, who left Egypt in organized groups under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Moses recorded their stops along the way at God's bidding. (Numbers 32:1-2)
Why "journeys" in plural? Only the 1st of the 42 journeys recorded was going out of Egypt (Mitzrayim in Hebrew, meaning narrowness).
From the narrow straits I called upon God; God answered me with expansiveness. (Psalm 118:5).
The Land through which we have passed to explore is a
land that devours yoshveha (inhabitants who sit still)"
(Numbers 13:32).
The Lubavitcher Rebbe teaches: "The Jew was not created
to stand still. There is always a new
journey before him."
Our journey from New York to Ra'anana with our 3 children in
1969 has invited fresh journeys emerging daily from our creative life in
Israel.
While Miriam was creating a new home for us, Mel was
teaching creativity and interdisciplinary learning at Tel Aviv University. We moved from Ra'anana to Haifa where we worked together to create an Experimental School at the University, the 1st open school in Israel.
We moved from Haifa to Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi where Mel realized
his Catskill Mountains childhood dream of being a Jewish farmer.
We moved to Yeroham to create a regional college in the
Negev. Mel headed the college and Miriam taught ceramics there.
Mel taught at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan while Miriam
babysat for our granddaughter in Rishon Letzion.
Our 4th child was born in Beersheva in 1982 when we were
already grandparents.
We moved to Petah Tikva 11 years ago. Mel taught at the
university in Ariel and at Emuna College School of the Arts in Jerusalem.
We enjoy our grandchildren who live in Yeroham, Petah Tikva
and Kfar Saba.