Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

During these past several weeks, the structure of my rabbinic service has changed dramatically. For thirty-three years, I have served as a congregational rabbi in three synagogues. While the culture has varied from one shul to the next, similarities pervade them all.

In general, my routine would be to attend daily morning Minyan, join the breakfast which follows, return any messages left from the night before, prepare sermons and lesson plans, teach classes to young and old, meet with upcoming lifecycle celebrants, counsel the distressed, visit shivas, hospitals, and shut ins, officiate at joys and sorrows, attend evening services, participate in administrative meetings, meet with local clergy and dignitaries, and much more depending on the day and unplanned scenarios. Most of these activities share one thing in common, they are face to face.

In the last several weeks, I am working just as hard if not harder, but very differently. I attend or lead daily morning and evening services on line. I write a daily dvar torah or blog for our website. I teach an hour long class three days a week at noon on line. I prepare short pre-made videos on days I do not teach. I attend shul meetings, clergy meetings and other meetings on line. I officiate simchas either on line or go to the home of a celebrant family, often with a Torah scroll, while guests attend on line. With a decrease of physical face to face experiences - emails, texts, and voicemails have increased tremendously. Funeral services are limited to ten attendees at the grave. Shivas are private. My pastoral care is done via telephone or social media. While I still put in the same hours or more, I am still adjusting to a very new form of rabbinate.

One of the positives, which I hope to continue in the long term, is teaching on line. With the combination of Zoom and Facebook, I have interaction with participants at a shared time, and many others can watch the sessions later on our shul Facebook page. What began as a preparations for Pesach class has evolved into a continuing series on Pirkei Avot - The Wisdom of the Sages.

For the first time since the new normal set in, I have to cancel today's noon class because of a member funeral. Obviously, honoring the memory of the deceased and comforting mourners take priority over all else. Still, I will truly miss not continuing our learning series. One can choose to attend all the classes or join one at a time. Each session is complete in covering at least one independent passage from the sacred literature of Pirkei Avot.

Now, deferred to Monday, we are up to a new early history in the development of the Sages. At a formative time, each generation was noted by "Zugot," a pair of contemporary scholars who shared overlapping teachings. Our next topic raises the ideal definition of a Jewish home. One Sage says, "Make your home a regular meeting place for scholars." A colleague suggests, "Let your house be open wide; let the poor be as members of your household."

Are these statements contradictory or complementary? Come join our next class.

I am saddened to have to cancel today's session, and I am more saddened that a loved one has passed away. Moreover, barely a Minyan is allowed to attend in today's new normal.

One thing that will not change is the proper time to begin and end Shabbat. I wish everyone Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

Today, on Yom Ha'Atzmaut, will you have recited Hallel or not? This question was unfathomable prior to 1948.

Traditionally, we recite Hallel on the Pilgrimage Festivals: Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot/Shemini Atzeret. At a later period, a partial Hallel became associated with the latter days of Pesach and Rosh Chodesh. When it comes to reciting the full Hallel, the Pilgrimage Festivals share one thing in common - Israel, harkening back to the annual harvest cycle in ancient times.

When it came to affixing liturgy to Chanukah and Purim, Hallel was instituted for Chanukah, since the narrative took place in Israel. Hallel was not instituted for Purim, being a Diaspora holiday. Some suggest that the reading of the Megillah in the morning service is in lieu of Hallel.

For religious Zionists, the recitation of Hallel on Yom Ha'Atzmaut makes a lot of sense. For those of us who see the establishment of the State of Israel as being miraculous, the recitation of Hallel puts this day along side Chanukah. While neither is a Biblical Yom Tov officially, Hallel is recited on Chanukah in full with the blessings that precede and follow the actual paragraphs from the book of Psalms. Should Yom Ha'Atzmaut in our era be any less than Chanukah in its liturgical evolution over 2000 years ago?

This year, we celebrate the seventy second year of Israel's independence. It was pointed out to me that even the English date this year is in celebration of Yom Ha'Atzmaut, as 4/28/2020 (the night when Yom Ha'Atzmaut began) added up equals 72. Now isn't that worthy of a full Hallel?

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

On Monday night and Tuesday, we will observe Yom Ha'Zikaron, Israel's remembrance day. On Tuesday night and Wednesday, we will celebrate Yom Ha'Atzmaut, Israel's independence day. Over the years, I have been impressed by the wisdom of our people in that we remember those who have fallen for Israel the day before we celebrate Israel.

The juxtaposition is akin to the Fast of Esther preceding Purim by a day, or the Fast of the firstborn preceding Pesach by a day. In all the scenarios, serious reflection and commemoration precede joy and festivity.

In my personal life, my introduction to Canada and Israel came together. My family's first ever trip to Israel was scheduled for my Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel in May of 1973. Back in those days, there was no direct flight from Boston to Israel. We either transfer in New York or Montreal. Our Delta flight took us to Montreal, where we connected to our El Al flight to Israel. We were scheduled to arrive in Israel for the grand celebration of Israel's twenty-fifth year of independence. However, a delay in Montreal meant that we actually arrived in Israel a day after the celebration.

My family celebrated two Shabbatot in Israel. The first was spent at a kibbutz where we met a synagogue group from Montreal. A few days later, that same group checked into the same hotel as us in Jerusalem. Subsequently, they all joined my family for the Shabbat Bar Mitzvah service at the Kotel.

Fast forward - In May of 1984, while studying in Israel for the year as part of my rabbinical school education, my classmates and I davened on the anniversary date of my Bar Mitzvah Parsha in the exact same spot where I had stood eleven years earlier.

Fast forward again - On May 1, 1998, the fifth of Iyar, my younger son Yonah was born on Yom Ha'Atzmaut. While not intended, the root of his name has a yud for Yom Ha'Atzmaut, a nun for the fiftieth year of Israel's statehood, and a hey, for the fifth of Iyar

Over the years, I have enjoyed visiting Israel many times for different purposes, among them being several memorable Beth Emeth trips to Israel.

I hope everyone will take some time this week to remember, reflect, and to celebrate the miracle of Israel in our lifetime.

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

The double parsha of Tazria-Metzora deals with a form of illness called Tzaraat, which could affect one's skin, clothing, house, and was considered contagious.

The Torah addresses all this on hygienic and spiritual levels. The afflicted person lived outside the camp for one week at a time to prevent the spread and to help him heal. In addition, the Kohen served as both physical doctor and spiritual healer. There was no judgement, only compassion, care, and empathy.

While Covid-19 is an unprecedented illness, we can derive lessons from the Torah portion: the importance of physical distancing, proper hygienic measures, and spiritual care from friends and community.

I wish everyone good health. Stay well.

Better days are coming.

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

Last night, our shul continued its tradition, spearheaded by brotherhood, of conducting a Yom Hashoa memorial service. I wish to thank all of you who participated and attended. Unique to this service was a visual collage filled with all kinds of memories from you, our congregational family. The collage also contained photographs from Beth Emeth's trip to Poland a few years ago.

I wish to express my gratitude to Stan Greenspan and Rabbi David Grundland for making this one of a kind memorial video into a reality. I also wish to express my gratitude to Cantor David Guber who sang the words of Av Ha'Rachamim, a liturgical dirge in memory of martyrs, taken from the Shabbat morning service, as part of the video. He also sang with inspirational piety Ani Maamin - I believe, El Maleh - the traditional memorial prayer, and Hatikva.

In addition, I wish to thank Rabbi Leslie Lipson for his meaningful Dvar Torah; Malcolm Weinstein for his presidential welcome; and Stan Greenspan for his brotherhood - FJMC remarks.

While the community at large and other institutions hold meaningful Yom Hashoa commemorations, it is vital that a shul like ours conducts a service that is relevant to its members,

Once the pandemic ends, and hopefully soon, we will hold our candlelight ceremony, as has been our recent custom.

May the memories of our six million brothers and sisters be for a blessing.

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

As we begin to look back at Pesach this year, the metaphor of Maror mixed with Charoset is one of celebration mixed with sorrow. As the guarantors of a 4000 year tradition, it was our responsibility to celebrate Pesach in its fullness as the season of our freedom. At the same time, our cup of wine was diminished this year for reasons other than tradition with the sorrow of illness and death surrounding us during this pandemic.

Our Torah portion this Shabbat, Shemini, is also celebration mixed with sorrow. The Parsha begins with the eighth and last day of a festive inauguration ceremony, culminating with the public affirmation of religious worship in the Tabernacle supervised by the Kohanim. Soon after reading the fervor of the celebration, we read the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu, two of Aaron's four sons, who brought a strange offering which God had not commanded them. While commentaries abound on what actually transpired, the Torah text focuses on the grieving parent and the community's response.

This Monday, April 20, will also be a mix of celebration and sorrow. At nightfall, we begin to observe Yom Hashoah, the 27th of Nisan, the date designated by the Jewish people to ritualize the memory of the Holocaust. I encourage us to participate in our shul memorial on Zoom following evening services. I also encourage us to light a yahrzeit-yizkor candle at home. This year, we commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

For me personally, the morning of April 20 will be filled with joy. A Bar Mitzvah, originally scheduled for this Shabbat at Beth Emeth, has been rescheduled to a Monday morning service with a few attendees at home and others participating on Zoom.

The combination of a Bar Mitzvah taking place on the same English date as Yom Hashoah is instructive. One lesson following the worst chapter in modern Jewish history is to continue celebrating joyous lifecycle moments like a Bar Mitzvah. Neither the memory of the Shoah nor the contemporary pandemic will halt the affirmation, joy, and celebration of Jewish life.

On this Erev Shabbat following Pesach, I wish everyone a healthy and meaningful Sabbath.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Howard Morrison

On the second night of Pesach, we began to count the Omer. In ancient agricultural times, a sheaf of barley was set aside each day for seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot. This was part of a ritual and prayer that sought a healthy Spring harvest. Pesach was regarded as the Festival of reaping, and Shavuot was regarded as the Festival of the first fruits.

Theologically, Pesach commemorates our physical freedom. Shavuot commemorates our spiritual freedom, denoted by the giving of the Torah. The 49 day counting of the Omer links the two Festivals. One complements the other.

As we all know, Pesach this year is unlike any other. As we are in the first week of counting the seven weeks of the Omer, one of the lessons is that while we count each day, we must also make each day count. As the outside world is smaller, and the inside world larger, let us strive to find meaningful ways with family indoors and others through the internet to be creative and make each day count in a meaningful way.

Moadim L'simcha - Chag Sameach,

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Angel for Shabbat/Pessah

by Rabbi Marc D. Angel

https://www.jewishideas.org/passover-symbols-symbols-our-lives-0

Dear Congregational Family,

In just a few days, we will celebrate Pesach. The words "Ma Nishtanah - How different" will be truer this year than in most other years.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have conducted an on line series called Preparations for Passover. We structured the whole Haggadah, analyzed the Four Questions, the Four Children, the texts after opening the door for Elijah, and Chad Gadya.

Today, Monday April 6 at noon, we will focus on Dayenu with contemporary implications. As a preamble to the session, one of the motifs of Dayenu is "Hakarat Ha'Tov - seeing the good," or simply put, being grateful for every little thing.

Notwithstanding the challenges and concerns raised by Covid-19, for what are we grateful? What forms of appreciation will we express at the Seder?

I wish everyone Shavua Tov and Chag Kasher V'Sameach,

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

Pesach is now exactly one week away. Sadly, it does not seem that Covid-19 will pass over before Passover. I am reminded from Torah that the Israelites were spared during the last plague because they stayed indoors. How imperative it is during this contemporary 21st century plague that we stay indoors as much as possible and completely for our elderly and vulnerable.

Please electronically get in your sale of Chametz forms by Tuesday night April 7. I will be selling your Chametz Wednesday morning April 8. You are on your own to dispose of your chametz. The texts can be found on the shul website.

We are now simulcasting prayer and classes on Zoom and Facebook Live. If you have any difficulty accessing Zoom, please try Facebook live. While Zoom enables us to see each other and interact, the davenings and classes remain on Facebook after the actual presentation for those who missed it the first time.

Our shul building will sadly be closed during Pesach. As a traditional shul, we do not livestream prayer on an actual Shabbat or Yom Tov. With this in mind, Cantor Guber and I will officiate a Yizkor Service on Zoom on the last day of Chol Ha'Moed, Tuesday April 14 at 9:30am.

I am grateful to the clergy team, office staff, and entire congregation for participating in the vastness of our outreach efforts.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay well. Better days are coming.

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

On Saturday night, I learned that my uncle Sydney passed away during Shabbat. He was the last of my father's siblings. Sydney was the youngest of six brothers. He lived his whole life developmentally challenged and was cared for in a group facility in upstate New York. He will be buried in the same cemetery as my Uncle Joe, his brother, who died ten years ago, in Staten Island.

Even with the challenges caused by Covid-19, my uncle's body will handled with all the tradition that takes place from pre-burial through the burial itself. A rabbi and Hevra Kadisha members will be present throughout.

Sadly, while no family members will be able to attend because of today's health concerns, my uncle will buried according to Jewish values.

While I will be officiating two shul funerals today and tomorrow, I wish to pay tribute to all who work in the Jewish funeral homes.

Especially now, their safeguards, preparations and dedication truly exemplify the ultimate form of lovingkindness.

May the memories of our loved ones be a blessing.

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

This week, Rosh Chodesh Nisan and the beginning of the book of Vayikra coincide. The major themes of both are instructive during this challenging time.

The book of Vayikra contains commandments about the bringing of certain sacrifices to the Temple. Once the Temple was destroyed, our rabbinic ancestors were able to preserve the narrative of the sacrifices by adapting and evolving Judaism into verbal prayer.

The Passover month of Nisan takes us back to the original commandment of bringing a roasted lamb to the Temple, which would be celebrated by families along with Matzah and Marror. Once the Temple was destroyed, our rabbinic ancestors were able preserve the narrative of the three primary Passover symbols by adapting and evolving Judaism into the Seder, as we know it today.

Nowadays, our generation is learning to adapt and evolve Judaism as well. We are preserving the best features of synagogue life: prayer, lovingkindness, music, Divrei Torah, and topical learning and developing them through virtual social media.

While I pray that soon we will return to familiar norms, I am grateful for all those who are helping to maintain Judaism with the current new normal.

I wish everyone Shabbat Shalom.

Be safe. Betters days are coming.

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

I have been thinking and reading about leniencies within Jewish Law that can help us celebrate and observe Pesach during these exigent circumstances.

For those who arrange to sell their Chametz to a non-Jew through me or other means prior to Pesach, there is no need to discard Chametz. Especially this year, where going out to shop is risky for some of us, Chametz based products need not be thrown away. Since ownership is not Jewish during the eight days of Pesach, one observes not owning and seeing Chametz by boarding it up or putting it in a place where no one will look. Once Chametz is bought back after the Festival, one will own and may use the Chametz.

Some of you may have read that a body of Israeli Sephardic rabbis has issued a ruling for Seder night only that one may use Zoom to connect the elderly with their families. Of course, these rabbis are clear that the halakha necessitates activating Zoom prior to the beginning of Yom Tov and not touching it during sacred time. In Israel, where one day of Yom Tov is observed, Friday is Chol Ha'Moed, and the electronic social media can be deactivated. In the Diaspora, with two days of Yom Tov, halakhic observance is more challenging since Yom Tov will be Thursday and Friday, which go directly into Shabbat, creating three consecutive days of sacred time.

Another suggestion to connect the elderly with families in order to celebrate some Seder joy is to use social media to conduct an unofficial overview or abbreviated Seder which will begin and end prior to the beginning of Yom Tov. Once Yom Tov begins, the full traditional Seder would still be observed without the use of electronics.

As I mentioned in my first Passover preparation class this past Monday, one could expand the symbolic observance of the Biblical "Pesach Sheni - Second Passover" exactly one month after Pesach. The date is Thursday night through Friday afternoon May 7-8. Depending on the health situation, families could gather together in larger numbers or via social media if physical distancing is still in order. Health and safety must always come first. Pesach Sheni is not a Yom Tov. Thus, the ritual prohibitions of a Yom Tov do not apply. Specific Festival blessings like the Festival Kiddush and the special blessings preceding the Matzah and Marror would be omitted. However, the standard blessings before bread and vegetables would be recited. One may recite the blessings for wine and drink the four cups of wine, recite the narrative sections and songs, etc.

While the afore-mentioned ideas may not work for all, they are attempts to help make easier a Pesach which will more challenging than in most years.

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

With all the concerns and regulations surrounding Covid19, let us not forget that Pesach is a little over two weeks away. In previous messages, I have pointed out that we have the authorization form for you to sell chametz on the website. I have also pointed out that for those who are religiously comfortable, you may rely on the lenient positions regarding the use of Kitniot-legumes especially this year. Your Pesach guide has a full explanation.

Shabbat Ha'Chodesh has come and gone. This Thursday is Rosh Chodesh Nisan. With Pesach fast approaching, I invite you to join me today, Wednesday, and Friday at 12 noon on Beth Emeth Facebook live. While the style of learning does not allow for verbal interaction, you can write comments to me during the learning so that we have interaction. Unlike other forms of social media outreach, the lesson on Facebook live remains on our Facebook page for those who cannot join in person.

Some of our topics for today will include:

With whom and how many people should one celebrate a Seder this year? What is Pesach Sheni? Can it be broadened for this year? Which edition of the Haggadah will you use? What kinds of questions will you ask this year? and more.

In session 2 on Wednesday, we shall place the entire Haggadah into a discernible structure. In subsequent sessions, we will analyze particular passages.

One specific section begins with the words "Tzay U'Lmad - Go and learn," which means to study deeply. In these challenging times, I invite us to find educational and spiritual nourishment through a study of the Haggadah.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay well.

Better days are coming.

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

The concluding Torah portions of shmot detail the last touches of the mishkan, the portable sanctuary which accompanied the Israelites in the days of Moses.

The usual haftarot for Vayakhel-Pkudei focus on the last touches of the first Temple in Jerusalem. These are not being publicly recited because of a replacement haftarah on Shabbat Ha'Chodesh.

These Biblical texts have made me wonder - What was it like for our people between the Mishkan and the first Temple? Between the first and second Temple? After the destruction of the second Temple to today?

In my Monday night class, a number of us recently studied sections of Tractate Gittin which provide a reconstruction of the period surrounding the fall of the second Temple. While some unrealistically hoped for an unchanged past to return, the Sage Rabban Yochanan and others paved the way for a new beginning in Yavneh outside of Jerusalem. While criticized by others, his way of hope, optimism and a new outlook enabled Judaism to survive and grow.

For the time being, we are in an in between time. We can choose to lament or unrealistically expect an unchanged past to suddenly return. Or, we can choose to emulate Rabban Yochanan. Take the best of what we still have and positively adapt it to our new situation.

Each day, many of us pray for the rebuilding of our holy Temple and a return to the nostalgic good old days, even as we have adjusted in the last 2000 years to a non-Temple based Judaism.

So too, we can and will hope and pray for a return of what life was like even just over a week ago, even as we celebrate the best of a new world order.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison