Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

One of the surnames of Rosh Hashanah is Yom Hazikaron, a day of remembrance. We pray that God remember us for good. On this day, God remembered the plights of Sarah, Hannah, and Rachel. In the Amidah, we add verses of remembrance during the Ten Days of Repentance. On Rosh Hashanah, we add a section called Zichronot, ten Biblical verses of remembrance in different contexts.

For me, the theme of remembrance takes on a personal dimension. My mother, Helen Frances Scott Morrison, died at 3:50am on the first day of Rosh Hashanah in 1999, twenty-one years ago. I remember like yesterday walking to shul a few hours later with a heavy heart. I remember informing the shul president confidentially at the beginning of services and informing the congregation  at the end of services. I remember the outpouring of love and comfort from my Long Island community. I remember frantically getting on a flight to Boston after yom tov when the original airline was mobbed and overbooked. I remember the surprise visit of my shul president at the funeral and of a teenager from my shul who drive to Boston to pay a shiva call and who drove me back to New York for the end of shiva during a terrible storm.

Of course, I remember my mom. She was a feminist who took pride in being a stay at home mother, though she rarely stayed at home. She drove the carpool, cooked a fresh meal every night, prepared the daily lunch, took us to our appointments and activities, taught piano lessons,  and did much more.

Mom's love for dad and four kids was expressed through actions. She also loved our pet cat and in later years a dog as well.

Mom loved her shul, a lifetime sisterhood president. She loved being Jewish. She loved to entertain. She was a baalabuste.

Mom, I remember you every day and will light a candle of remembrance prior to Yom Hazikaron, Monday evening.

Your memory will always be a blessing.

Love,

Your son, Howie