Rabbi Howard Morrison

As a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, I have the privilege of celebrating Canada Day on July 1 and American Independence Day on July 4. While both occasions are celebrated with fireworks, barbecues, and more, we ought never take for granted the importance of freedom and our mandate to preserve it.

From the inception of Jewish history, our people have tragically known what it is like not to be and free and to be persecuted by others. The Jewish people have had to ensure the slavery of Biblical Egypt. We have had to endure the oppressions of many different empires in antiquity, such as the Hellenistic and Roman Empires. We have had to endure medieval forms of hatred perpetrated against us during the Crusades, the Inquisition, and pogroms. We have had to endure the atrocities of the Shoah, and we have had to endure contemporary forms of terrorism and anti-Semitism. Is it any wonder that we Jews enthusiastically celebrate the weekly Shabbat, the annual Festival of Passover (called "the season of our freedom") and Yom Ha'Atzmaut ("Israel Independence Day")! We celebrate our freedom because we know what it means not to be free.

In Canada and in the U.S. this coming week, we should go beyond attending fireworks and barbecues. While there is much more progress that needs to be made, we should pause and be grateful for the freedoms we have living in North America. It is proper that many synagogues, including Beth Emeth, recite a prayer for Canada during Shabbat services. Even two thousand years ago, our ancient Sages saw the merit of living under the auspices of a civilized government. In the Ethics of the Sages, we learn:

"Pray for the welfare of the Government, for if people did not have awe for it, they would swallow each other alive (Pirkei Avot 3:2)."

I wish everyone a healthy, joyous, and meaningful Canada Day and Fourth of July.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Howard Morrison