Rabbi Howard Morrison

On the first day of Sukkot, October 7, I reflected on the second anniversary of that English date. On the Hebrew calendar, today is the second Yahrzeit of the horrific tragedies which took place on Shemini Atzeret in the Diaspora, which were Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah combined in Israel.

A lot has changed between October 7 and today. Twenty living hostages have returned home. Four deceased hostages have returned home. twenty-four remain unknown.

Today, we pause to remember deceased loved ones in our families and in our congregation. We pause to remember those who perished in the Shoah, martyrs of all ages in Jewish history, those who perished from acts of terror in Israel and around the world, Canadians who died making the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. 

Today, we dedicate the newest memorial plaques which have been affixed to our memorial boards in the past year.

A year ago, we participated in the "Simchat Torah Project." We became one of 1600 synagogues to receive a special Torah mantle in memory of those who fell on Simchat Torah two years ago.  Each mantle bears the same looking front side, a memorial to all the fallen. On the front of the mantle, a quotation from Kohelet reads, "Eit Lisfod; Eit Lirkod - There is a time to grieve, and there is a time to dance. We feel both sentiments today.  The back side of each mantle identifies a particular fallen individual. On ours is the name of a young IDF soldier who perished at the young age of twenty during the first advance by the IDF in Gaza, mere weeks after the horrors of this date.

It is noteworthy that as we observe Yizkor today, the two Torah mantles and large Maftir scroll itself, memorialize the two saddest and most challenging periods of modern Jewish history. The Czech Torah reminds us of the six million who lost their lives in less than a decade. The Simchat Torah Project mantle reminds of us the thousands who lost their lives on one single day. It is said that the tragedy which befell our people on October 7-Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah two years ago is comparable to multiple 9/11's in one day.

And yet, as we sadly remember and grieve, we remember the Shoah and October 7 today by reading Torah. From the first Torah reading, we read a summary of the Pilgrimage Festivals and how they were celebrated in Biblical times. From the second Torah reading, we read the ancient sacrifices which were brought in antiquity on this sacred day. These festivals were revealed to us some 3500 years, and we continue to celebrate them thousands of years later. Our Torah is correctly called "Torat Chaim - a Torah of life." Despite the history of Jew-hated from Pharaoh to Haman, to Antiochus, to the Romans, all the way to Hitler, Hamas, and the like, thousands of us attended shul on the HHD, and hundreds of us are here today. We remember and we grieve - YES! But we also affirm our faith and heritage, and pledge to live on as Jews - YES!

This morning we will read multiple lists - We will read those of our Beth Emeth family who have died in the past year. We will read those whose names have been inscribed on the newest memorial plaques. We will read the names of many death and labor camps where members of our shul died or endured during the years of the Shoah. 

And - we will read the names of the twenty-four, twenty living and four dead. To the twenty, we pray for a Refuah Shlemah, a complete recovery. To the four, we pray for a dignified and honorable burial. May their memories be for a blessing.

Chag Sameach,

Rabbi Howard Morrison