Exodus is a journey that began over three thousand years ago when we left a life of slavery and oppression in Egypt to become the world's first truly free nation. Rallying together behind a benevolent leader. we chose the solitude of the highroad over the destitution of the mundane. We chose to be chosen.

In the 1940's, Jews fleeing from the utter evil of Germany and the rest of Europe gave up everything they had and risked their lives aboard broken vessels for the slightest chance at freedom and self-determination in the Holy Land. Their struggle for freedom and survival against seemingly insurmountable odds is personified by a ship called Exodus, and in a major Hollywood film by the same title.

In 1989, the iron curtain falls. Hundreds of thousands of trapped Soviet Jews are suddenly given the opportunity to leave, and Israel and the Jewish world respond by raising millions of dollars to finance their emigration. The name of the campaign, which was at the forefront of every major fundraising drive of the period, becomes known as Operation Exodus.

Three distinct eras in our history expressing one common vision.

The Torah instructs every Jew, no matter where we are, to remember the Exodus from Egypt every day. Chassidut teaches that Egypt is the embodiment of all that is repressive and limiting in one's reality. In one way or another, we are all slaves, whether it be to our jobs, our money or our own egos. In this sense, we strive to leave Egypt each day, to separate from those things that trap us in a slavish mentality, whether they are limitations imposed internally or externally. Leaving Egypt every day means accepting that even the growth achieved yesterday is an enslavement com-pared to the growth that can be achieved today. It is the challenge to grow constantly - despite all odds.

This is the visionary approach of a people willing to leave the stagnant comfort of slavery in Egypt, leaping into the bleak desert to pursue its own purpose and seek a unique version of reality. This is the vision of a people that rejects oppression and evil of any kind, and seeks to show an example of real strength and goodness to the world. This is the vision of a people whose kindness and integrity know no limitations, a people that scoffs at the Egypts, the Germanys and the Soviets of this world, and finds vitality and beauty in enduring truth.

This is the vision of a people whose past is rich and full of profound meaning, but whose future redemption is even richer.

This is our vision. This is our Exodus.

With this in mind, we will tackle difficult and often controversial subjects. Our approach is that we have nothing to lose by speaking our minds, and that the truth always stands up for itself. If there are those who have comments on our Exodus, and we hope that there will be, we would love to hear from you. This is your exodus, too.

Enjoy the journey.