Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

This week, we find ourselves in the midst of a journey on different levels.

We transition from the third to to fourth week in counting the Omer. The totality of seven weeks of counting connect Passover with Shavuot. This week, we are right in the middle. What  are we doing to integrate the spiritual roller coaster ride of Spring which takes us on an up and down journey from Pesach to Yom Ha'Shoah to Yom Ha'Zikaron to Yom Ha'Atzmaut to Yom Yerushalayim to Shavuot and the historical sadness associated with the Omer period?

We find ourselves smack in the middle of the five books of the Torah. The double Parsha of Acharei Mot-Kedoshim is the midpoint. Our Sages teach us that the majority of the fundamental principles of the entire Torah are found in Kedoshim. The Ten Commandments are indirectly found as we encounter the midpoint of the Torah.

It is customary to study the six chapter treatise called Pirkei Avot, The wisdom of the Sages, during the six Shabbatot between Pesach and Shavuot. This coming Shabbat marks chapter three in the journey through Pirkei Avot. In our weekly Tuesday class started virtually last year, we are in the beginning of chapter four. Feel free to join our group or study these brief inspirational maxims on your own. Most complete Siddurim contain Pirkei Avot.

A year ago, we probably thought that the pandemic would be finished by now. It is clearly not over. Hopefully, we are past the mid point, but who knows for sure? While vaccinations are on the rise, so are actual cases. I encourage everyone to continue exercising caution. We are still in the midst of journeying through the pandemic.

We are in the midst of the midpoint on many things right now. May we be inspired by our calendar, our Torah portion, our rabbinic literature, and may we be aware of what needs to happen while we continue to confront Covid-19.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison