Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

This past weekend, the delegation from the IDF which was sent to help in Surfside, Florida finished its mission and departed back for Israel. Many of us saw the video in which these brave Israelis were given a standing ovation for their efforts, notwithstanding the enormity of the tragedy.

In today's Parsha, Moses recounts the episode of the first military delegation, the envoy of twelve tribal leaders, who were sent to investigate the Promised Land. Now, forty years, later, Moses summarizes lessons learned from that failed venture to a new generation which is poised to enter the Promised Land.

Some 3500 years later, the Israel Defense Forces not only defends our people in Israel, but goes across the globe to help anyone in distress, Jew or non-Jew. Their most recent efforts in Florida were the latest in a history of missions to help save human life in our world.

How ironic that as Anti-Zionism/Anti-Semitism continue to plague the world, our moral mandate guides us to help, search, rescue, and save at all costs.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison