Unfortunately, Jews are accustomed to relocating, whether when forced to do so, or when the promise of a better life can be found elsewhere. In fact, a Jew is permitted to settle anywhere, with one exception. In the verse above the Torah intimates the prohibition against settlement in Egypt first mentioned earlier in 17:16.

Indeed, Rambam codified this ruling: “It is permitted to dwell anywhere in the entire world with the exception of the land of Egypt” (Mishneh Torah, Melachim 5:7). However, Rabbenu Bachye ben Asher (14th century Saragossa), student of Ramban, clarified that the Egyptian ban only applied during biblical times when the Torah considered its culture inhospitable to Jewish life.

Similarly, while a Jew can technically live anywhere, the Talmud says that once a Jew settles in Israel, he or she should not leave (Avoda Zara 13a). However, it is permitted if moving to the diaspora will help them to find a spouse or to increase their knowledge of Torah.

In other words, a Jew’s primary objective is to build a Jewish home and community and one should therefore always seek out a place where they can best do so.

Sadly, during the pandemic it’s often felt as if we are each alone. We’ve had to refrain from interacting with the rest of our communities in the ways which create a rich Jewish life — like studying, praying and celebrating in person with one another. However, while things may be different, we are finding new ways forward.

We are now creating more intimate “village” communities. For example, we are doing this with smaller minyanim, 30-person weddings and Zoom gatherings for different constituencies in our congregations. In fact, in some ways this is fostering greater intimacy and belonging than was sometimes found in a packed Shabbat morning. Thankfully, our Jewish communities have a knack for finding ways to persevere and are doing so again.

Rabbi Shalom Morris