Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

In the most recent issue of Moment magazine, rabbis from different affiliations were asked to comment on the question, "How do you deal with people in your community who don't want to get vaccinated?''

For me, the most compelling commentary came from Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, the former director of the U.S. Holocaust Museum and the founder of CLAL, the Center for Learning and Leadership in New York. Allow me to share some excerpts from his piece:

"The central teaching of the Jewish religion is the preciousness of human life. The central command of the Torah is 'choose life.' We must act to maximize life and minimize death. . . . This, I would say to those in my community, is why I urge you to get vaccinated. The murderous pandemic prowling the world has already killed more than 5 million people. Getting vaccinated is your ticket to saving your life from this scourge. . . . I would conclude this way: I beg of you to protect your life and others' lives. Please put aside your qualms and get inoculated. I love you as myself, and I would be heartbroken if you sicken or die. . . . Please join me in fulfilling the ultimate command of the Torah: Choose life."

Yesterday, we concluded the eight days of Chanukah, a holiday of "rededication" to Jewish ideals. May we rededicate our commitment to safeguarding life, without which there is no Torah and nothing else.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison