iPhone X.
Last night, while most of humanity was asleep, Apple's latest version of their popular smartphone went on sale. Within minutes they had sold out of their expected stock, and the miracle devices are now only available weeks out.
Now selling for more than the average computer, these little devices have changed the landscape of technology in the last 10 years. While it used to be weird if you saw someone walking
down the street talking to themselves, now it is the norm to have a smartphone. From camera to music player, personal assistant to GPS, it has become the industry standard for a new millennium.
How did this come to be? From not being comfortable. Yes, we had a cassette player, and yes we had a rotary phone, and sure we had a road atlas, but let's not rest on our laurels when we can achieve something better. This is not an exact quote from Steve Jobs.
This is the message of this week's Torah portion Lech Lecha (ch as in Challah 😉) - Go out from your father's home to the land that I will show you. This is Hashem's instruction to Abraham. Yes, you discovered monotheism and are comfortably set up in your own spiritual life. But think larger, get out there, make something amazing happen, be the start of a nation. Destination yet to be decided, but Lech Lecha - Keep on moving.
While the iPhone might be more of a pursuit of personal gratification, Abraham's pursuit was one of selfless spiritual fulfillment. We all have our comfort zones, and often times it gets the job done. But imagine if we push the (email) envelope and head out to discover, to expand our horizon. Abraham shows us that the sky is definitely not the limit.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom!
From the Rabbi's Desk
iPhone X?
Comfort
These last weeks have been very difficult for our county. Battered by some of the harshest forces of nature, many of us have friends who have lost their homes. As the fires are slowly reaching full containment, here are some thoughts:
Devastation surrounding us. Petaluma spared. Reminds me of Noah surrounded by the raging floods. Safe in the ark. The Hebrew word for ark is Teivah. Teivah also means words. One way of finding solace and security is to enter into words. Words of Prayer, words of Torah (we started anew season of Torah Studies), words of Kindness.
Noach's name means comfort. Petaluma and the region turned out in force to support and comfort. (Shabbat Dinner of Unity & Comfort tonight in Santa Rosa). Let's continue to be there for each other every day. Let's keep the kindness and love for our neighbors even once the smoke clears.
When Noach left the ark, he found the world in shambles. No home, no landscape, nothing. Yet, he found the inner strength to rebuild. 
To start a new world. To look towards the future. We are that future. Thank you, Noach! After the Holocaust, (Nov 9, we are hosting a Holocaust survivor as a guest speaker) our relatives bravely made a similar decision - rebuild. While our past colors us, our future defines us. Thank you to my grandparents! Here in Sonoma County, we too will rebuild.
As evacuations are lifted and the smoke begins to thin, I stopped by to show gratitude to the brave heroes who continue to fight these wildfires on the ground and by air.
Wishing you a Shabbat of Comfort, Peace, and Unity!
Favorite Yom Kippur Moment
My favorite Yom Kippur moment?
A young couple strolling around Lucchesi pond look up, see our sign for High Holiday services, remember that it's the holiest day of the year and join us then and there for Neilah - closing of the gates - the spiritual climax of Yom Kippur.
Ever try to snap a thread? It's easy. However, take multiple threads, twist them together into a rope, and no amount of force can break them. On Yom Kippur, the best way to ensure a good and a sweet new year is to add another Jew to our beautiful collective rope of community.
Now it's on to Sukkot, where we all sit together under the same roof, the mystical canopy of the sukkah, and differences melt away in the face of unconditional unity.
In Las Vegas, two opposite forces. The indiscriminate shooting that did not differentiate between mother, doctor, officer. And then the indiscriminate acts of love performed by random strangers, realizing that one person's blood is not redder than the next. Let's continue to flood the airwaves of the world with kindness, love, and unity.
#togetherunited