Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

Thirty-four years ago this week, I celebrated a special occasion in my rabbinical life. My alma mater, The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), had a particular practice for last year rabbinical students. Each one had to deliver a sermon on a Shabbat morning before faculty, fellow students, and family. Called the "senior sermon," this was an initiation right of passage leading to eventual ordination as a Rabbi.

During the preceding Spring and Summer weeks, the school administration placed the names of the weekly Torah portions in one basket and the names of the senior class students in another basket. A lottery decided the parsha assignment for each student.

While Parshat Ki-Tavo appears toward the end of the Torah, it was the first Shabbat portion of the 1986-87 academic year. My name was selected with this Parsha.

Ironically, Ki-Tavo begins with a ritual containing baskets. Upon entry to the Promised Land, the Israelites would express gratitude for the Spring harvest by bringing bikurim, first fruits, in a basket to the Tabernacle.

Now, thirty-four years after delivering my senior sermon, I continue to be grateful for all the baskets of gifts in my life, which include my health, my family, my friends, my acquaintances, and for the last twenty years, my Beth Emeth community.

Literally, Ki-Tavo means, "When you enter." In less than three weeks, we will enter a new year. I encourage all our members to renew your memberships now and make arrangements to join our High Holy Day services either in person and/or via livestream.

Let us express our gratitude for being part of our sacred congregation by doing our part in ensuring our community's future.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison