Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family, 

This past weekend, the Olympics began in Tokyo. It is noteworthy that from a Jewish perspective, the weekend began with memory and ended with celebration. Many of us were deeply offended when the 2012 Summer Olympics ignored the fortieth anniversary of the slain Israeli athletes, who were murdered during the Munich Olympics. Now, during the forty-ninth anniversary of Munich, our Israeli brethren were properly remembered during the opening ceremonies. By the end of the weekend, Israel had earned its first medal, as Avishag Semberg won the bronze in taekwondo. 

How ironic that the weekend of memory and celebration took place during the commemoration of Shabbat Nachamu - the Sabbath of Comfort. Coming the first Shabbat following Tisha B'Av, this past Shabbat connects the memory of historic loss to the renewal of Rosh Hashanah after enumerating seven weeks of comfort. 

With two weeks of Olympic games to go, may Israel win many more medals, as we remember and celebrate.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison