Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

On Shabbat afternoon, we began to read this week's Parsha of Chayei Sarah. In it, the Torah recounts the deaths of Sarah and Abraham. A generation which founded Judaism and the Jewish people comes to an end.

It was right after Shabbat when many of us learned that Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks had passed away in England. For a number of decades, he inspired and influenced Jews of many backgrounds all over the world.

He wrote many books and columns. He was known to represent a centrist form of  Orthodoxy which promoted dialogue with other faiths and dialogue with non-Orthodox streams of Judaism. For years, he wrote thought provoking Divrei Torah on the weekly Parsha, many of which have been published in book form.

One of his earlier books which I have owned for a long time is entitled, "Arguments For The Sake of Heaven." Published in 1991, Rabbi Sacks wrote this book in part to promote dialogue as chasms were widening within the Jewish people. The title is based on a well known teaching found in Pirkei Avot. Arguments for the sake of Heaven have lasting value as exemplified by Hillel and Shammai.

In his introduction, Rabbi Sacks writes, "The argument between Hillel and Shammai was in fact decided in favor of Hillel. But it does imply a willingness to engage in reasoned dialogue with views with which one disagrees. . . Through intellectual conflict comes resolution and eventually, reconciliation. These are values that need restating in a fragmented Jewish world."

For many, Rabbi Sacks was a rabbinic leader for the world, not just one country. Many of his writings can be found on the internet. I encourage us to become familiar with his teachings and his religious personality.

While this week's Parsha recounts the deaths of our founders, it is called, "The life of Sarah, " whose death is mentioned at the outset.

May we remember Rabbi Sacks and his contributions in the way he lived his life, and how he brought depth of meaning to the life of Judaism and the Jewish people.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison