Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

In secular culture, one counts downward in anticipation of celebratory events. One might say something like "only such and such number of days to go until my birthday, or some other occasion."

At this season of the year in Judaism, we are counting upward, as we anticipate the Festival of Shavuot. The second night of Pesach was day one in the count. Today is day twenty-four. After forty-nine days of counting in total, we will have arrived at Shavuot. The ritual of counting upward simulates for us the physical and spiritual journey our ancestors faced from the time of the Exodus to the time of their encampment at Mount Sinai.

During this challenging pandemic, it is important that we stay as positive as possible by looking upward and not downward. At Beth Emeth, it is noteworthy that on the Monday and Thursday mornings this week and next week, I will have been in shul officiating a Shacharit service with either a baby naming or a Bar-Mitzvah. While the celebrant families know they are restricted to a very small gathering in our sanctuary, they are grateful to celebrate their milestones in the synagogue, while inviting their guests to join on Zoom or livestream. 

For four thousand years, Jewish life has had to confront  many threats and challenges. For the most part, we have persevered and moved forward in a positive direction. Our historical experience is symbolized by the Israelite journey from Egypt to Sinai, and by the daily seven week ritual of counting the Omer in an upward direction.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison