Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue

06/23/2026

Chukkat Balak - A two tiered message from Bilam

Since the second day of Shavuot, which took place in the Diaspora on a Shabbat, Israel has been one Torah portion ahead of the Diaspora. That changes this Shabbat. Here, we will read the double-portion of Chukkat-Balak. In Israel, the portion of Balak will be read.

In Parshat Balak, the heathen prophet Bilam is commissioned by the Moabite emperor Balak to curse the Children of Israel. On repeated attempts, Bilam is unable to do so. Two important and paradoxical comments come from his lips. On the one hand, Bilam observes the Israelites and says, "Behold, there is a people that dwells alone and is not recognized by the nations." On the other hand, upon seeing the modesty and unity of the community, he states, " How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel." The latter verse is nowadays recited every time one enters a sanctuary. Notice that we quote the words of a non-Jew who respected our people every time we come to shul.

Both Biblical statements from Bilam co-exist to this very day. Those who choose to understand the true nature of Judaism - our ethics, principles, and values will come to regard us positively. Throughout history, a minority of society at large contemplates Judaism seriously. Those who do become our colleagues and friends. Sadly, most of society at large chooses not to contemplate Judaism seriously. As a result, to most of the nations of the world, the Jewish people wherever they live and Israel do in fact dwell alone and are not recognized by the nations.

Our prayer for the positive statement to become more prevalent is known as "Ma Tovu" in Hebrew. Those are the words which introduce every synagogue service and are among the first Hebrew prayers learned by young Jewish children at the onset of their religious education.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison

06/22/2026

06/21/2026

Korach - Evil can be articulate and convincing

Does Korach get a bad rap? While tradition considers him to be the bad guy and Moses as the good guy, a modern reader could see it the other way around. Korach's critique makes modern sense. How do you, Moses and Aaron, have the right to put yourself above the rest and claim political and religious leadership? "You (Moses and Aaron) have gone too far! For all the community are holy, 'Kulam Kedoshim,' and the Lord is in their midst. Why do you raise yourselves above the Lord's congregation?"

Two hundred fifty buy Korach's argument. If Korach were making his protest in 2026, I believe he would have many more followers. Nobody likes a dictator. Everybody wants equality, democracy, egalitarianism, inclusion. These words and concepts seem at face value to be Korach's point of view. The only reason we know for sure in the text that Korach is the bad guy is because God says so. God has Korach and Moses go through a ritual test ordained by God, and Moses wins. Korach and some of his followers die on the spot, and the rest of his followers are swallowed up by the earth.

While Korach's arguments may seem convincing and appealing, they are wrong once we peel out the layers of his speech and analyze those layers. Wheh Korach says, "Kulam Kedoshim , all the community are holy, that is not so. The first time we encounter holiness and the community of Israel is right before the giving of the Torah in the book of Shemot: "V'Atem TIHU LI Mamlechet Kohanim v'Goy Kadosh - You SHALL BE to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." The Children of Israel are not automatically and intrinsically holy before God. The people can become holy before God, and that is by doing what comes next - commitment to observing the commandments, which are revealed at Mount Sinai. Our people being holy is conditional on safeguarding the Mitzvot, which are revealed soon after this statement.

Was Koach naive or stupid? Definitely not. He purposely deviates from the authenticity of the Judaism of his time and falsely but cleverly manipulates the truth for personal gain. As I have said often before, especially in the last three years, evil is not stupid; it is smart. It is easy to fall for a message based on lies and propaganda when the message is delivered so perfectly, or seemingly so.

The lesson of Parshat Korach is as relevant now as ever before. Many people around the world, including Jews too, are falling for false messaging. Discerning truth requires brains and a willingness to be a critical thinker, something which is sorely missing today in a world of social media and quick news.

Our tradition teaches that there is a place for legitimate dispute, like that of Hillel and Shammai, but there is no place for illegitimate dispute, as exemplified by Korach and his cohorts. The illegitimate dispute is based not only by the falshood of the claim but also by the devious, clever nature of the speaker's manipulation.

Sadly, we could easily list many people who fit the description of Korach these days. Let us be analytically careful to distinguish the bad guys from the good guys. It takes thoughtful analysis to truly understand that Korach is the bad guy, and Moses is the good guy.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison

06/15/2026

Honoring the memory of Rabbi Joseph Kelman

This Shabbat, the fifth of Tammuz, is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Joseph Kelman. Our esteemed rabbi passed away in 2009 making this his seventeenth Yahrzeit. Rabbi Kelman was a visionary in many ways. He saw what our shul would become from its infancy years. He served our shul as senior rabbi for forty years and continued as rabbi emeritus for another ten years before he passed away.

Rabbi Kelman envisioned the proper way that the Jewish community should honor and respect those with exceptionalities. Reena, Ezra-Kadima, and the former Shearim day school would not have existed without the vision and planning of Rabbi Kelman. In this regard, Rabbi Kelman initiated meaningful Bar Mitzvah ceremonies for young teens with special needs.

Ordained as an Orthodox rabbi, Rabbi Kelman led our shul, Beth Emeth, a traditional congregation. In my early years, Rabbi Kelman was a fixture at the meetings of the Toronto Board of Rabbis and the Rabbinical Assembly. The first organization is multi-denominational consisting mostly of non-Orthodox rabbis, and the second organization is for affiliated Conservative rabbis. Rabbi Kelman was respected by all his peers, regardless of their rabbinical credentials. During one of the intifadas in the early 2000's, very few Jewish groups were traveling to Israel. To help pave the way for others, the Toronto Board of Rabbis put together a short three-day mission to Israel. Of course, Rabbi Kelman was one of the participants.

While I knew and worked with Rabbi Kelman for my first nine years at Beth Emeth, many of you knew him better than me. He officiated at your happy and sad lifecycle moments. He counseled you during difficult times. He taught you authentic Torah lessons from our tradition. He escorted and guided you on trips to Israel, and much more.

Yhi Zichro Baruch - May the memory of Rabbi Joseph Kelman be for a blessing.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison

06/14/2026

Shlach - Walking with and for Israel

Two Sundays ago, the annual New York city Israel day parade saw unprecedented numbers of participants, including many political dignitaries, notwithstanding the boycott by its Mayor.

Last Sunday, our Toronto community saw tremendous numbers of participants at the annual UJA-Federation Walk with Israel, notwithstanding the terrible pressures imposed upon our community in recent days, weeks, months, and years by those around us.

I am reminded of today's Torah portion as a lesson for our times. With great anticipation, the Israelites were fast approaching the threshold of the promised land of Israel. A mere formality seemed to be at play. God instructed Moses to have each tribe select a leader. Twelve in all would go on a brief expeditionary mission, bring back a few fruits, and report back to the people. No one could have imagined what would ensue, unless you already knew the story.

Only two of the leaders, Joshua and Caleb, came back with a true objective message. They were instilled with faith and promise. However, their messaging was outdone by the ten others. Their report was filled with falsehood, propaganda, and exaggeration. They instilled fear and panic upon the masses. Were these ten unprepared? Did they lack faith? Were they afraid of the unknown? Did they fear losing leadership once the tribes settled in the land? Ultimately, they negatively convinced the masses to respond with an uproar. These ten and the people would see themselves as grasshoppers in the sight of giants. Sadly, this generation was not prepared to enter the land. Only a new generation forty or so years later would enter the land with Josha and Caleb, the only two who left Egypt and witnessed the beauty of the promised land a generation earlier.

If you could, put yourself in the middle of this narrative - Had you been one of the twelve leaders, and be honest with yourselves, would you have emulated Joshua and Caleb. a minority of two, or the majority of ten? Had you been among the people listening to these two reports, how would you have felt? Would you have been among the masses? Would you have spoken out?

It is difficult to be among a minority and stand up for your principles and values in the wake of a large mob psychology. In our Torah text, this challenge takes place between Jews and Jews. In Canada and around the world, this challenge takes place between Jews and the world around us. It is difficult to emulate Joshua and Caleb when so many masses are drinking the cool aid of propaganda and falsehood, linking Israel with genocide, ignoring the real genocides taking place in authoritarian countries around the globe, pressuring Jews who are Zionists because we believe that part of Judaism is the absolute right to live and continue living in the homeland of our Biblical ancestors some four thousand years ago.

While there are Jewish fringe groups on the far right and left who do not identify Judaism with Zionism, the vast majority of Jews understand our TRUTH. Regardless of governmental positions held by elected leaders in the U.S., Canada, and other countries; regardless of how one feels about government policies taken by Israeli elected officials; the love relationship by Jews everywhere in the world for Israel is something to be proud of.

Sadly, we are a small minority group in the world, and even in Canada, not merely in terms of numbers, but also in terms of ideology. It was not easy for Joshua and Caleb to stand against the majority, and it is not easy for us in a similar vein. However, we have today's Torah narrative and the role model leadership of Joshua and Caleb to inspire us.

I am proud of all the Jews who walked with and for Israel, and who supported the walks, both in New York and in Toronto. May we forever have faith and pride, just as Joshua and Caleb exemplified in today's Parsha.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison

06/08/2026

Remembering my father, Ruben Morrison, Reuven ben Moshe, z"l

On June 7, 1999 - 23 Sivan 5759, my father passed away. Now, 27 years later, the English and Hebrew dates of his passing coincide. The overlap of the Hebrew and English calendars this year makes my dad's Yahrzeit more memorable and meaningful for me than in past years.

It is ironic that an unplanned event on Sunday helped prepare me for dad's Yahrzeit. Unknown to many people in my shul community, my father was trained as an architect and worked most of his career as a project manager for a Boston based construction company. Many of dad's projects had to do with overseeing renovations and expansions, which included hospitals and universities, as well as overseeing the building from scratch of "the Devonshire," a skyscraper in downtown Boston. As children, my siblings and I struggled to find adequate closet space because the closets were filled with many blueprints from dad's projects. Who knew back then that everything would be digital these days?

On late Sunday afternoon, a shul member called to ask me how to properly affix a Mezuza for his son and daughter in law's new home, which had been the original home in which my shul member was raised. Since the young family lived nearby, I arranged to visit the house and the family. Years earlier, the same house had been the young man's Zaidee's bungalow. Decades later, the same house was renovated and expanded beautifully. It reminded me of the kind of work my dad did for commercial buildings his whole adult life. As the young family walked me through their new home, I thought to myself that my father would have been proud and approved the renovation that I witnessed on Sunday evening.

Yhi Zichro Baruch - May the memory of my father, Reuven ben Moshe, z"l, be a blessing to all who knew him.

Love,

Howie - his son and second oldest of his four children

06/07/2026

Parshat Shelach - Walking with Israel/lessons learned then and now

There is never an end to lessons learned from history. In Parshat Shelach, the Israelites are poised to enter the promised land of Israel. They are situated on the threshold. All that needs to happen is a divinely ordained expeditionary mission during which twelve tribal chieftains will take a look, bring back some sample fruits, and share a report. Who could have guessed the unfathomable? Ten of the chieftains and almost the entire nation go into a panic. There will be no joyous walk into Israel until a new generation is born in the wilderness.

Over 3600 years later, the Jewish people now rejoice over sovereignty in Israel. With pride and commitment, today's nation of Israel is withstanding all kinds of external pressures but stands firm and resolute. Notwithstanding the most recent attacks at synagogues in Toronto and Montreal, over 60,000 lovers of Israel, mostly Jews with non-Jews as well, walked with and for Israel. Unlike the Biblical tale, there was no anxiety or panic this past Sunday on Bathurst street. Jews representing the full gamut of Jewish expression, along with many non-Jewish lovers of Israel, demonstrated an absolute unity surrounded by Ahavat Yisrael, a love for Israel.

To society at large, rest assured - The lies, propaganda, acts of terror, and the like will serve only to strengthen the resolve that the Jewish people and all lovers of Israel already have.

Am Yisrael Chai!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison