Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

This Shabbat, we reach the midpoint of the entire Torah with the double potion of Acharei Mot - Kedoshim. These two portion titles with the title, Emor, of the following week, actually translate as "After the death, one speaks of their sanctity."

In contemporary Jewish life, these words take on new meaning after the commemorations of Yom Hashoah and Yom Ha'Zikaron. All who died in the Shoah and for the State of Israel died as martyrs , sanctifying God's name, called "Kiddush Ha'Shem" in Hebrew.

Parshat Kedoshim provides an insight into all the Torah's fundamental values. Our Sages teach us that the majority of the Torah's essential principles are found in this single Parsha.

While a few select verses apply specifically to the land of Israel, the Haftarah for this Shabbat, taken from the Prophet Amos, sounds like it could have been written in recent times:

"I will restore my people Israel. They shall rebuild ruined cities and inhabit them. They shall plant vineyards and drink their wine. They shall till gardens and eat their fruits. And I will plant them upon their soil, never more to be uprooted from the soil I have given them, said the Lord your God."

What a beautiful and meaningful prayer and aspiration composed thousands of years ago and which rings true to this very day.

Rabbi Howard Morrison