Rabbi Howard Morrison

In memory of the fiftieth anniversary of the Yom Kippur war

In one month's time, over twenty individuals representing Beth Emeth will visit Israel to celebrate her seventy-fifth year as a modern State. Our congregation is one of the most Zionistic synagogues I have ever known. We have young and old who, over the years, have toured, studied, served in the IDF, and made permanent Aliyah. In my twenty-three years of serving Beth Emeth, we have embarked on many tours of Israel, some centering around young families, some centering around mature individuals and couples, and some being multi-generational. Given the three years of the pandemic, the last time we as a shul went to Israel was in the Fall of 2015, when we devoted a week in Poland and a week primarily in Jerusalem. The next time is now. While the October-November tour of Israel will cover familiar and new sites, sightseeing is just part of our spiritual and moral purpose.

I believe that the values of Yom Kippur offer insight as to why we are going right after the Fall Festivals:

The Day of Atonement focuses on individual and collective repentance. We come to shul over these next twenty-five hours to repent as individuals. We come to RECOGNIZE our shortcomings over the past year, to express REMORSE and REGRET, to RECITE our mistakes, to make RESTITUTION with those we have harmed, and to RECONCILE broken relationships. The multiple R's in the model of repentance are directed toward our relationship with God and our relationships with those around us, with whom we should ideally approach even before the onset of Yom Kippur.

However, the model of repentance is far more than individualistic. Notice that the words of the Vidui (confession) are framed in the plural, like many other prayers we recite. "Ashamnu, Bagadnu, etc. - WE have been ARROGANT, WE have been BOASTFUL, etc." When we recite the short form, which offers one word from Aleph to Tav, and when we recite the long form which contains two lines for every Hebrew letter, there is no way we could have done all the wrong acts that are symbolized by all the words and phrases. We recite them all because we share a collective responsibility. The question is not so much are we innocent or guilty in the repentance prayers. Rather, do we feel a sense of responsibility to those around us.

Our connection to Israel, be it through visits, donations, and the like, is based on a shared collective responsibility  toward our brothers and sisters who live in Medinat Yisrael, the State of Israel

For some of us, our connection to Israel starts with God and our Torah. From Genesis chapter 12, God promised Israel to our people in the divine covenant with Abraham and Sarah. For others of us, our connection starts with Israel itself. A safe and secure Israel, first and foremost, enables one to freely and safely express how one identifies Jewishly.

I am saddened that Israel will always have external enemies just waiting to attack innocent men, women, and children. I will never forget that in early July, when we read the Torah portion of Pinchas,  several Israelis were severely injured by an act of terror on Pinchas Rosen street in Tel Aviv. Did we need larger numbers of victims or deaths for this recent act of terror to be taken seriously?

I am saddened that the world chooses not to understand why Israel must pro-actively remove terror cells from within its own country. Would any other country just sit around and do nothing?

I am saddened that there is a civil rift between political and ideological groups in Israel over judicial reform, much of which we in the Diaspora do not really comprehend. I am confident that smart leaders living in Israel will sort it out.

I am saddened that there is a growing rift between the Diaspora and Israel. I have read how members of one particular American liberal Jewish denomination find it difficult to speak positively about Israel at all these days.

I am saddened that some of my own North American colleagues have gone to Israel this Summer to take sides over internal debates. Personally, had I been in Israel during the Summer, I would have chosen to visit those injured from acts of terror before alligning myself in political debate.

It seems to me that in the spirit of collective repentance and responsibility we need to care about all of Israel, the ideologies with which we agree, and the ideologies with which we disagree. I lament the usage of such terms as settlers, occupiers, leftists, and other such terms which serve only to further sever and divide the Jewish people.

Yes - Modern Israel's 75^th year is fraught with all kinds of challenges. BUT -

 Has our Jewish people not overcome greater obstacles in 4000 years of Jewish history? 

Has our Jewish people not had it worse when there was no Jewish sovereignty in Israel for almost 2000 years, between 70CE and 1948?

At the end of the day, I am forever grateful for Medinat Yisrael, the State of Israel.

I am grateful that a Morrison family of six celebrated my Bar Mitzvah in Israel in 1973 - me, my three siblings, and my parents.

I am grateful that my rabbinical education required me to spend a year of study in Israel in 1983-84.

I am grateful to have escorted members of my first shul to Israel in 1991, members of my second shul in 1997, and members of my Beth Emeth family several times since my coming in 2000.

I am grateful to have visited my younger son on three occasions during the three years he voluntarily served in the IDF as a lone soldier after completing CHAT.

I am grateful to have studied in Israel during vacations and sabbaticals over the years.

I am grateful that our shul understands the moral imperative of enabling its rabbi to bring groups of Jews to Israel, and that over 20 of us will be going in a few weeks.

I am grateful to so many of you, here in shul and on our livestream. You have demonstrated your commitment to Israel in all kinds of ways. Over the years, members of Beth Emeth have exhibited Israel leadership through UJA-Federation, the State of Israel Bonds, Jewish National Fund, Bet Halochem, and much more.

Regardless of the many ways each of us chooses to identify our collective responsibility for Israel, tonight, we have the privilege of being asked to make an investment through the State of Israel Bonds.

Before the pandemic, our shul was one of the leading congregations in publicly supporting the purchase of Bonds. It is now time to reclaim that place. Please select any amount that is meaningful to you. More than the amount, it is the act of participating which is most important. The proceeds of Israel Bonds do not serve the interest groups of any particular political or ideological group in Israel. The proceeds enrich the lives of all Israelis by improving the infrastructure for daily life in Israel.

One of the many words whose numerology adds up to 75 is actually the name Micha, a Prophet in the Bible. The Hebrew letters Mem, Yud, Chaf Hay (40, 10, 20, 5) add up to 75. Sadly, Micha was among the Biblical Prophets who predicted the eventual destruction of Jerusalem during the First Temple period. One of his lessons, which we read as a Haftarah in the late Spring, contains one of the essential messages of all of Judaism:

"God has told you . . . what is good, and what the Lord requires of you:

1. to do justice
2. to love goodness
3. and to walk humbly with your God (Micha 6:8)."

Micha's words are a lesson to us all to refine our character as individuals, in our relationship with God and people, in our relationship with Israel, and in our relationship with the world.

Gmar Chatimah Tovah,
Rabbi Howard Morrison