Immigrant Rabbi

I was thinking about my current situation – a new immigrant to a foreign country, a Rabbi trying to make a name and a career in the new land – and how frustrating it can be. Then I thought of my grandfather. He came to the U.S. after The War with three kids, not speaking the language. He took a bunch of odd jobs before finally deciding to go off on his own. He built a little shteibl in Baltimore which he ran for 30 years until his retirement. He never became wealthy, but was able to provide for his family and retire in comfort. It gives comfort to think that this path has been traveled before, in my own family, and not even so long ago.