Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

The Mishna identifies four kinds of new years in the Jewish calendar: Rosh Hashanah, Passover, Tu-Bishvat, and the first of Elul.

Rosh Hashanah is a new year for spiritual growth, reflection, self-evaluation, repentance, and forgiveness.

Passover marks the beginning of the calendar year from a Biblical point of view and celebrates the birth of our people's freedom.

Tu-Bishvat is the new year of trees in Israel.

The first of Elul was a tithing and taxation occasion in ancient times.

Living as we do in the Diaspora, we and the world at large also follow the secular Western calendar. While January 1 is not a Jewish new year, it is a time to reflect, as we do at other times on the Jewish calendar year.

Sadly, the realities of Covid remain with us. The variants called Delta and Omicron are challenging to us all. I hope and pray that we will all do our very best to stay healthy, safe, and content.

Notwithstanding, we must also remember to celebrate and recall the good things over the past year. The gifts of food, shelter, family, and friendships should never be taken for granted. I pray that we will find reason to celebrate and be optimistic as we transition from 2021 to 2022.

I wish everyone a healthy, happy,  and meaningful new year.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison