Rabbi Howard Morrison

The beginning of this week's Torah portion states, "See, this day, I (God) set before you blessing and curse."

"This day," meaning each and every day, we potentially feel the joy of blessings and the sadness of curses. This is a requisite of the human condition. Thus, at Pesach time, we did Marror into Charoset, the bitter into the sweet because of the bittersweet nature of life's experiences. When we lose a loved one, we recite, "God who gave, and God who took." It is the one and only God who gives life at birth and takes life at death.

Jewish tradition prescribes that we acknowledge God at sacred moments of experiencing the good and the bad of life. Thus, at an especially joyous moment, we recite either the blessing of "Tov U'Maitiv - God who is good and beneficent," or the blessing of "Shehecheyanu - God who has granted life." At a time of extreme sadness, we recite the blessing,  "Baruch Dayan Emet - Praised be the True Judge."

With the combination of one God and varied experiences in life's journey, our tradition equips us with the language to acknowledge God for all circumstances and at all times.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison