Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

Yesterday was called "Isru Chag" on the Jewish calendar. The expression means a one day aftermath following the Festival's conclusion. While Yom Tov ended Sunday night, we carry the spiritual glow of the festival's joy one more day into the regular week.

For me, this particular one day addendum follows not only Simchat Torah, but also the joy, sanctity, and solemnity of Shmini Atzeret, Sukkot, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashanah. 

While the Jewish new year began just a few weeks ago, the Torah reading cycle began anew just two days ago into this week. How will our lives change from 5780 to 5781? How will our lives change from the ending of the Torah to the beginning of the Torah?

By definition, endings lead to new beginnings. As one door closes, a new door opens. As we closed the fifth and last book of the Torah, we immediately opened the first book of the Torah.

As soon as we read of the death of Moses, we began to recite the first chapter of Joshua, the creation of the world, and the origin of the first person.  There is no finality. Rather, there are transitions in the life of a person, a peoplehood, and a world.

It is noteworthy that the last letter of the Torah is a lamed and the first letter of the Torah is a bet. Together, they spell the word, lev,  meaning "heart." How will our Jewish hearts be nourished in the new year? What lessons have we learned during the Holy Day season which will inspire us moving forward?

It is interesting  to note that the first letter of the Torah is a bet, which is closed on all sides except for the direction of moving forward. What will define our progress in the new year?

Rabbi Howard Morrison