Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

This Wednesday, October 28th, would have been my mother's ninety-first English birthday. Helen Frances Scott Morrison was born on October 28, 1929. She passed away on September 11 (Rosh Hashanah), 1999.

It was my mother who formulated my English and Hebrew names. How does Howard Bradley Morrison coincide with Avraham Tzvi, in Hebrew? My mother named me in memory of her grandfather, Harry Abraham, whose Hebrew name was Avraham Tzvi. Bear in mind that the Hebrew Tzvi is the same as Hershel in Yiddish, or Harry, in English. My mother modified Harry to Howard. However, Howard Abraham Morrison would be initialed as "H.A.M." My mother recognized the challenge before my birth. Creatively, she realized that by dropping the "A" of Abraham, the next three letters start the name, "Bradley." Thus, Avraham Tzvi coincides with Howard Bradley Morrison.

This year, my mother's English birthday coincides with Parshat Lech Lecha, the origin of the very first Avraham-Abraham, the very first Jew. At the outset, God calls on him to go forth from his land, from his birth place, from his parent's house, to a land that God would show him, ultimately, Israel.

While embarking on a different geographical path, twenty years ago, I I left the U.S. Northeast, which I had called home my entire life and moved happily to Toronto in order to serve Beth Emeth.

While the Biblical Avraham was known to create spiritual souls, profess monotheism, and create a welcoming environment, I have tried in my own small way to do the same in my rabbinate.

This week, I honour the birthday of my mother, who gave me the Hebrew name Avraham,  as we read the Biblical origin of that name in this week's Torah portion.

Rabbi Howard Morrison