Rabbi Howard Morrison

On Wednesday, November 15, this week, I learned that two of my professors from rabbinical school at the Jewish Theological Seminary passed away -  Rabbi Israel Francus, a renowned Talmud scholar and Rabbi Avraham Holtz, a renowned scholar of liturgy and rabbinic texts. 

In addition to my learning from both of them, I also had the privilege of sitting next to them during services in the Stein Chapel. For years, I sat in the second row right behind Rabbi Francus, who sat in the front row. Rabbi Francus, who lived close to the Seminary,  attended virtually every service in the Seminary synagogue, morning, afternoon, and night, whether there were lots of attendees or even by himself at times. A true scholar, he was also a mentsch. His final exams were known as "Francathons." He was dedicated to making sure his students knew how to learn Talmud texts and the Rishonim, the early commentators on the texts. 

Rabbi Holtz commuted to the Seminary and often sat right next to me primarily at Mincha time in the Stein Chapel. While I did not have the privilege of taking a formal class with him, I benefited from countless informal conversations. I remember always seeing him with a book or article, something he was reading or writing. I was a rabbinical student when the original Siddur Sim Shalom was published. Rabbi Holtz served on the Siddur committee. During that time, we shared many discussions on the nature of Jewish prayer, statutory rules and where and when modifications could be made in the liturgy. I will always remember and treasure those conversations. Rabbi Holtz, like Rabbi Francus, combined the virtues of being a scholar and a mentch at the same time.

Yhi Zichram Baruch - May their memories be a blessing.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Howard Morrison