Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

In Parshat Bereishit, it has been noted that the last three letters in the first three words of the Torah and the last three letters of the last three words in the first creation narrative both spell "Emet," meaning, truth. Classical commentators have suggested that "Emeth-Truth" is a seal for God's name. While other traits can be relative, Truth is absolute. One can be more or less kind, more or less compassionate, more or less nice, more or less cruel. However, truth cannot be relative. Two people can have divergent opinions or divergent narratives, but one ought not call them divergent truths.

A week ago, U.S. Vice-President, Kamala Harris, met with students at George Mason University to discuss voter registration. One student changed the topic and declared to the Vice-President some terrible false statements about Israel. This student also criticized The government for supporting the iron dome. Instead of her correcting the student or staying to the assigned topic, V.P. Harris said to the student, "Your truth should not be suppressed."

These words should concern us all. Are high echelon leaders now calling false inaccuracies "truth?" Are high echelon leaders confusing "opinion" with "truth?" Are high echelon leaders making everything relative, which means there is no longer a true, authentic, definitive truth?

We should stand on high alert by such rhetoric and be concerned. The very beginning of the Torah instructs us that a relative truth is no truth at all, and that the seal of God is definitive truth.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison