Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

During the seven days of Sukkot, our ancestors brought seventy sacrifices to the Temple. Seventy represented the totality of nations in the world. On Shemini Atzetet, our ancestors brought one sacrifice representing the particularity of the Jewish historical experience.

The day following the Sukkot-Shemini Atzeret season was yesterday, September 30. This last day of the secular month had our people commemorating particularistic and universal remembrances.

Eighty years ago, over 33,000 Jews were murdered by the Nazis at Babi Yar. To that tragic date in 1941, it was the largest single massacre in the history of the Shoah, as the world stood by in silence. We remember September 30, the anniversary of Babi Yar.

September 30, 2021 marked Canada's first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 

The newest statutory holiday asks all Canadians to reflect on Canada's history of mistreatment of indigenous people, which resulted in the deaths of several thousand indigenous children and a lasting trauma throughout our country.

One need not compare or contrast Jewish historical horror with Canadian historical horror. Each stands on its own, and each merits proper reflection.

Tomorrow, we begin to read Bereishit. The Torah will begin the particularism of Jewish history in chapter 12 with the saga of Abram and Sarai. The first eleven chapters deal with the world at large and Judaism's mandate to help heal and rebuild the world for all.

How September 30 sadly bridges Jewish and Canadian tragedy amidst the aftermath of Sukkot-Shemini Atzeret and in advance of Shabbat Bereishit.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison