Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

With warmer weather, vaccinations taking place, and some leniencies in provincial protocols, a re-emergence of congregational joy was experienced this past weekend.

On Shabbat morning, our doors were once again open to those who felt comfortable coming into shul. As an officiating rabbi, it was nice to see members of the congregation occupying pews in our sanctuary. Our rows of seats had been empty for too long. Joyfully, we continue to have over one hundred households joining us via livestream on Shabbat mornings.

On Saturday night, right after Shabbat, we celebrated a family Bat Mitzvah in the context of Havdalah. Some twenty people in our sanctuary were augmented by many others on Zoom and livestream. The Bat Mitzvah and her family restored the joy of celebrating lifecycle milestones in our shul.

On Sunday morning, on Zoom, a synagogue family celebrated the baby naming of a newborn daughter. This was the fourth straight Sunday morning I officiated a Zoom baby naming. The ceremony had parents, grandparents, and great grandparents participating. It was a wonderful entree to Passover, the most multi-generationally celebrated holiday on the Jewish calendar.

On Sunday night, our shul arranged a pre-Pesach Zoom dinner and program in lieu of Shabbat Across North America, which we normally hold on a Friday night in March. Our congregational family gathered in large numbers and with an enthusiastic spirit. 

With the various Simchas celebrated this past weekend, I encourage those who are comfortable to consider registering and joining us in person this coming Shabbat and the Yom Tov days of Pesach. Of course, our livestream will continue to be accessible to all.

Better days are coming.

Chag Kasher V'Sameach,

Rabbi Howard Morrison