Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

Many of us remember where we were when we heard the tragic news on November 4, 1995. I had just begun officiating Shabbat Mincha services in Long Island, New York when someone announced he was injured. By the time we started davening Maariv, a latecomer announced that he was dead.

Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin was assassinated by a fellow Jew, ironically, at a peace rally after Shabbat in Tel Aviv. The Prime Minister had just finished reciting a poetic song entitled, "Shir L'Shalom - a song for peace." Living in New York at the time, I remember attending a crowded memorial service a few days later at Madison Square Garden. In addition, my congregation filled our sanctuary two nights after the tragedy, participating in our own memorial, led in part by children of our religious school.

The bitter month of Heshvan is already void of joyous holidays. The bitter month of Heshvan already has the anniversary of Kristallnacht attached to it from November 9, 1938. Now, for the last twenty-five years, the bitter month of Heshvan includes the assassination of Yitzchak Rabin.

Ironically, Parshat Vayera includes the near death of the very first Yitzchak, the son of Abraham. Ultimately, the Biblical lesson is that we never offer up our own people on the altar. Sadly, this lesson was not heeded by a member of our people two and a half decades ago.

Yhi Zichro Baruch - May the memory of Yitzchak ben Nechemia be for a blessing.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison