Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

I wish everyone a healthy and happy Canada Day. Celebrating independence should not be taken lightly or for granted. Throughout our history, Jews have lived in lands where freedom to practice our heritage was denied and punishable. Today, around the world, many faith groups are not allowed to practice their religion.

With freedom comes responsibility. In Judaism, freedom is called "Cherut" in Hebrew. Interestingly, a Hebrew word for being responsible to the tenets of our tradition is "Charut." This word specifically refers to the engraving of the Ten Commandments. In Pirkei Avot, we are taught to read Cherut as Charut, meaning freedom entails responsibility.

Our great country of Canada is now undergoing its own Cheshbon Nefesh, an accounting of its soul. The recent discoveries of graves at residential schools have prompted all of Canada to ask serious fundamental questions about freedom and individual rights.

This Canada Day should be more than a vacation. May we reflect on the gift of independence and the responsibilities associated with it.

Sincerely, 

Rabbi Howard Morrison