Rabbi Howard Morrison

On Friday afternoon around 3:45 PM, I learned that Rabbi Harold Kushner passed away. The name might be familiar to you. He wrote many books that touched the lives of modern Jews around the world. His first best seller was the famous "When bad things happen to good people." He first wrote the book to comfort himself and his family after his young boy died of an aging disease. While I did not necessarily share his theology, I and thousands if not millions of others valued his writing which brought comfort to those who struggle with perceived injustice in the world. I also remarked to people that the book was not entitled "WHY," which no one can answer, but rather, "WHEN," which we can answer with compassion, sympathy, empathy, and just being there for one another.

Over the years, Rabbi Kushner touched people with other best seller but lesser-known works, such as a modern interpretation of Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd - Healing wisdom of the twenty-third Psalm." He also wrote a book called, "When all you've ever wanted is not enough," which I used one year as the basis of a High Holy Day sermon. He also authored "Living a life that matters" and much more.

Rabbi Kushner spoke as well as he wrote. He had that rare ability to take timeless ideals and make them timely. He touched Jews and non-Jews, religious Jews and secular Jews.

For years, he would teach at the annual Rabbinical Assembly convention. I always looked forward to his sessions. I also heard him before my rabbinical school days in the Boston area where I was raised. He served as a career pulpit rabbi in Natick, MA.

If you want to be inspired and enriched as a person looking for depth and purpose in your life, I encourage you to read Rabbi Kushner's writings.

On this Shabbat, we read the double portion Acharei Mot-Kedoshim, followed by Parshat Emor. The titles translate as "After one's death, one speaks of his sanctity." How true this sentiment is for the memory of Rabbi Kushner, who will be laid to rest this coming Monday.

Yhi Zichro Baruch - May Rabbi Harold Kushner's memory be for a blessing.

Rabbi Howard Morrison