Rabbi Howard Morrison

There is a parallel this week between the secular calendar and our Torah reading cycle. This week we transitioned from 2025 to 2026 with January 1^st on Thursday. As one year has ended, a new year has begun. I wish us all good health, purpose, meaning, and joy in the new year.

On this coming Shabbat, We will finish reading the first book of the Torah, Bereishit-Genesis, in the morning. We will begin reading the second book of the Torah, Shemot-Exodus, in the afternoon. As one book is closed, another one is immediately opened.

In between the two books, as a postscript to ending Bereishit in the morning, we add three words which translate as, "Be of strength, be of strength, and let us  be strengthened." These words teach us to take ownership of the book of Torah just completed, to be strengthened by it, and to begin the next book with strength and ownership. The three postscript words also teach us that while we can study Torah individually, it is always preferable to take ownership of our heritage in the context of community and peoplehood.

May we all grow spiritually and morally in the new year of 2026 and with the teachings found in the next book of Torah, Shmot-Exodus.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison