Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

The last full Parsha of the Torah that is read on Shabbat is this week's portion called "Haazinu." The Torah itself refers to Haazinu as a "Shira," or, poetic song. When the Israelites began their journey to freedom, they sang a Shira, which is part of our daily liturgy. Forty years later at the threshold of the Promised Land, the Torah nears its conclusion with a final Shira.

This year's High Holy Day season has been impacted in many ways by the pandemic. One of  the joyous surprises has been the Shira brought to us by our visiting Chazzan, Cantor Lipa Glantz. As a prelude to the High Holy Days, he led our early Kabbalat Shabbat on line twice. He inspired us with his colleague, Cantor Alex Stein, during Selichot. This past weekend, in front of a small number in shul and in front of several hundred households on livestream,  Cantor Glantz led beautiful Rosh Hashanah services with sweetness, heart, melody, and soul. Personally, it has been a pleasure for me to sit and prepare with him, and to share the Bima together.

Last night, Cantors Glantz and Stein presented a beautiful concert, which marked the mid point of the Ten Days of Repentance. Members of Beth Emeth and Adath Israel were given a real treat of music, spirituality, and enjoyment. We appreciated all of it during these trying times.

This Friday evening, both Cantors will participate in an on line pre-Kabbalat Shabbat service starting at 6pm for the Beth Emeth and Adath Israel communities. I hope you will plan to attend.

Perhaps it is no accident that the last Parsha read in full on Shabbat is called a Shira. More than any other time of year, the High Holy Day liturgy is largely defined by the richness of its musical diversity.

I am grateful to both Cantors for enriching our respective congregations with such a high caliber of Shira to help us welcome the new year.

I wish everyone Gmar Chatima Tova.

Rabbi Howard Morrison