From the Rabbi's Desk - Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma

When is Prayer Not Cool?

Thursday, April 28, 2016 - 9:00 AM

We had a beautiful Seder on the 1st night of Passover with twenty-five in attendance, sharing, laughing and inspiring each other. From the handmade-matzah to the array of wines, to the oh-so-perfect brisket it was a truly magical evening greatly enhanced by each person. See pictures (taken before the holiday) here. Next year in Jerusalem!

Tonight we begin "the last days" of Passover when the Jews crossed the Red Sea escaping the clutches of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. (We had the opportunity to visit Devorah's family in S Diego and take the kids to Legoland where they escaped a giant Lego Pharaoh - now that's called reliving the exodus!).

A very dramatic moment was when the Jews turned around to see Egyptian chariots chasing them, Pharaoh having changed his mind yet again. They were trapped. On one side was the vast sea, on the other a nation unwilling to give up their slaves. What to do?

Well, the Midrash tells us that there were a variety of opinions (naturally - 2 Jews, 3 opinions).

Group A said let's give up and return to Egypt as slaves, we don't stand a chance.

The 2nd group refused to allow themselves the torturous fate that they had endured for so long and thought that suicide would be a better alternative.

The 3rd opinion was; Let's fight! There is no way that we are giving up our freedom, and we now have the self-confidence to stand up for ourselves.

The 4th was to resort to what has stood the Jewish People in good stead throughout the generations; Prayer. Realizing that they needed a miracle to extricate themselves from a terrible situation and powerful army, they turned to a Higher Power.

But, they were all wrong.

You see, the divine instruction that they had been giving was simple. Go! All four of the opinions had a common denominator; stopping. So no matter how noble or brave their intentions may have been, it wasn't the right move.

It was only when Nachshon famously started walking into the water, undaunted by the advancing forces, nor the depth of the sea, with unwavering faith in G-d's directive and care, that the sea split.

The lesson is simple. Sometimes we tend to get caught up in our own interpretations, that we lose sight of the core focus. War and Prayer have done us well many times throughout history, but sometimes we just need to do.

Keep the spirit of Passover going and join us next week for First Friday Shabbat on May 6th, 7:00pm

Happy Passover and Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Dovid Bush

A Thought for Your Seder

Thursday, April 21, 2016 - 9:00 AM

Why is this the most celebrated Jewish Holiday? A story from over 3,300 years ago. An era of slavery that is thankfully a foreign concept. Why are we still cleaning and cooking, sitting and celebrating this freedom?

Passover has a relevant and timeless message. Egypt in Hebrew is Mitzrayim (מִצְרַיִם). The very same letters, with different vowels, spells Maytzarim (מֵצָרִים) - boundaries. The exodus from Egypt wasn't just a one-time event. Rather, every year we relive the experience and strive to leave and overcome our own personal boundaries and limitations. It's a time for miraculous growth, beyond what we could imagine on our own. A time for true freedom.

With best wishes for a Happy Passover, and incredible levels of personal and collective growth!
Rabbi Dovid and Devorah Bush

Constructive Criticism

Friday, April 8, 2016 - 9:00 AM

Who is the best person to diagnose a broken leg? Who would you choose to inform you about your child's cavities? What about an incessant migraine that can not be healed by a bowl of chicken soup?

Most would agree that an Orthopedist, Dentist, and Neurologist would be the ideal choices. The Torah however, has a somewhat surprising approach when discussing a unique malady known as Tzara'at or leprosy.

The Tzara'at was a discoloration of one's skin, which came about not due to a physical ailment, but as a result of gossip - a spiritual disorder. It had very specific characteristics as far as size, color and had to be diagnosed by a Kohen. Yes, that's right - a Kohen was the one who had to deliver the diagnosis, even if he was not familiar with the intricacies of the Tzara'at ailment. A sage who was proficient in the various laws would examine the spot, and would communicate to the Kohen, who would hand down the verdict. If it was indeed Tzara'at, the individual would need to separate from the community for seven days.

This would be analogous to a doctor needing to communicate his findings to a layman before being able to treat a patient.

The Torah is teaching us a most valuable lesson; before passing judgement on someone, before offering critique to a colleague, employee, spouse or child, you need to be a Kohen. A kohen is tasked with blessing the Jewish people with the priestly blessing. The only blessing where the qualifier is, to bless the Nation of Israel with love. A Kohen, one who truly loves his fellow, will surely do everything in his ability to prevent a negative outcome if at all possible. And if it is indeed the case, he will soften the verdict with love.

When taking someone else to task, when criticizing a fellow, we need to first look at ourselves and make sure that we are doing it with love. Only then will it be accepted. Without it, not only won't it be effective, it can be counter-productive, and perhaps even destructive.

Let's not rush to condemn, to prescribe "antibiotics" just in case the other party is guilty as charged. Next time you find yourself sharing your opinion, try it out. Be a Kohen. I'm sure you'll like it.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Dovid Bush

Historic Diet

Friday, April 1, 2016 - 9:00 AM

Will it be a smoothie, a green salad or a nutrition bar?

The healthy food industry has exploded in recent years with global sales expected to hit $1 trillion by 2017. With all the research and studies into the benefits and risks caused merely by our chosen diet, it's no wonder that we have all become more conscientious with food we buy and consume.

In this week's Torah portion, we have one of the very first prescribed diets (not sure if this is pre-paleo 😉 ) - Kosher. Much as a nutritionist might instruct us as to how best to maintain a proper calorie intake and cholesterol level, balancing carbs and protein, The Torah has set of dietary guidelines that allows us to enhance our spiritual nutrition levels.

Kosher emphasizes that Judaism is much more than a "religion" in the conventional sense of the word. To the Jew, holiness is not confined to holy places and times outside the everyday; rather, life in its totality is a sacred endeavor. Even the seemingly mundane activity of eating is a G‑dly act and a uniquely Jewish experience.

While it may not be as easy in Petaluma as in a grocery store in New York or a marketplace in Israel, close to 50% of Supermarket products are Kosher! It's not limited to the Kosher section with the year-round Manischewitz. For more info on Kosher, take a look atwww.JewishPetaluma.com/Kosher or send us your questions.

While on the topic, take a look at the Petaluma Community Passover Shopping Guide, and let us know what you think! View the Passover Shopping Guide here.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Dovid Bush