Rabbi Howard Morrison

Being involved in dialogue with others is imperative. Israel has sadly learned that it has no choice but to fight when there is no one with whom to have constructive dialogue. Even in sectors around the world, including our own, we have had to stand on our own in the face of Jew-hatred when there is no one with whom to have constructive dialogue.

Ever since my oldest son left his first work community in Alpena Michigan, I have continued to be in touch as a friend and rabbinic consultant to a small synagogue there which has no ordained clergy. With a relationship that I cultivated with a local pastor of a Lutheran church, we have had interfaith programs on Zoom. 

This past Sunday, we shared a two-part program on what constitutes peace, and what does not constitute peace, in our respective religious traditions. There were matters on which we agreed, agreed to disagree, and to disagree agreeably. Some topics that were addressed were the Christian concept of "turn the other cheek," the difference between "Thou shalt not kill" versus "Thou shalt not murder," and the implications on abortion and Israel's right to defend itself in the Middle East.

The most important part of the experience was the willingness by clergy and community members to engage in difficult conversation on challenging topics, something that would benefit communities here and elsewhere.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Howard Morrison