It's Matzah season.
Contrary to popular supermarket opinion, where they stock Matzah year round alongside the Manischewitz gefilte fish, Matzah is actually Passover thing.
But how would they know the "behind the scenes" of these crunchy crackers? The dramatic tale of the long-awaited exodus. How after 10 plagues battering the Egyptians, Pharaoh finally caved to the demand of "Let my People go". In their haste to leave, the dough the Jews were preparing did not have time to rise, and instead baked in the heat of the desert sun. Hence, the tradition of Matzah at the Passover seder.
Hang on a second! So what? So they ended up with a defective dough 3,329 years ago... Perhaps we should dress up in the same outfits they wore? Why did we zero in on the Matzah as a "keeper"?
So let's dive into the deeper dimension of the holiday. Where Passover isn't simply a tradition, but a personal journey. Each of us finds ourselves in one form of Egypt or another, shackled and constrained, prevented from realizing our dreams and aspirations.
How do we break out? How do we experience our own exodus? The answer is right there in the Kosher aisle. Matzah. Unlike the puffed up Challah that we eat year round, the matzah is thin and flat. Sometimes the greatest obstacle to our success, the very thing holding us back, is too much self. The ego can blind our vision and distort our senses. How can we truly achieve, if we can't see further than the end of our nose?
Along comes the Matzah with a message of humility. This is the key to escape our own Egypt. This leaves room for G-d's blessings to enter into our lives. We can join together with each other to form a powerful Jewish nation. When we are selfless, we don't lose our identity. On the contrary, we can finally discover who we truly are.
"Self-help needed on Aisle 13" ;-)
From the Rabbi's Desk
Help Needed on Aisle 13!
Happy New Month!
Happy New Month!
As the fledgling Jewish nation was gearing up for an epic exodus, they received their very firstMitzvah (commandment). That of the new moon. Over the course of the month, the moon transitions from a bright sphere to a crescent, finally disappearing, only to begin the cycle again. That moment of rebirth is the New Moon, and that day is the beginning of the Jewish month - in Hebrew; Rosh Chodesh.
The Jewish calendar follows a different course than the Gregorian calendar. The latter is a solar calendar, with solstices and equinoxes, while the former follows the lunar cycle.
The big question is why? "Why is this calendar different than all other calendars"? Why are we sent Googling when the next Jewish Holiday occurs? Why the confusion when it comes to Bar Mitzvahs and Yahrtzeits? (By the way, here is a handy tool to find out your Jewish birthday, the date of a yahrtzeit, or any other date on the calendar). And why was this Mitzvah #1? If you had one message for this young nation, would you choose Jewish astronomy?
The truth is, there is incredible beauty and inspiration in this. While the sun remains a constant source of light, the moon undergoes constant change; phases of growth, decline, disappearance and rebirth.
We navigate according to the moon, not impervious to lapses and failings, yet at the same time, inextinguishable. We have ups and downs, waxing and waning, but like the Moon, the Jewish people have always had the power of revival. In fact, our darkest moments become part of the fabric of our rich history. The trials and tribulations, the twists and turns and the challenges have built our nation's very character.
We celebrate the new month not when the moon is the brightest, but when it has just reappeared, when the potential for growth is greatest.
As we set out into the Passover season to relive the journey out of Egypt, we can look to the moon and realize that we have the ability to constantly change, develop, and shine ever brighter.
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We invite you to relive the Passover experience at our Community Seder on April 10th. Or, if you know of someone who is in need of a Seder, please extend this invitation to them.
No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
RSVP or sponsor a seat: www.JewishPetaluma.com/
Wishing you a good Shabbos!
Rabbi Dovid Bush
A Golden What?
Incredible party with friends and community! The concession stands buffet was a hit, Lou Seal was the star of the show, the kids got to make their very own sports graggers, and in true Purim spirit, bounced upside down on the moon bounce. The sports-themed caricatures were a crowd favorite, lots of gragger swinging at the 2 Megillah readings, and the Purim spirit was unmatched. Thank you to all who joined us to celebrate!
Check out the pictures below.
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This week we read about the Golden Calf. A mere 40 days after they received the Torah at Sinai, amid miracles and revelations the likes of which we have not seen since, they build an idol. They had heard the Big 10 with their very own ears, "Do not have other gods", and just because Moshe was running (according to their calculations) a few hours late, they would go and risk the whole relationship?
The key here is not that they made such a grave error, but what they did following the realization that they had made a mistake.
We all make mistakes, it's part of being human. Why were we designed with this "flaw"? 
Why have ups and downs, successes and failures?
So we can grow. True growth does not come without challenges. When everything is perfect, it gives us a false sense of security. What were to happen if a storm (#Stella) would arrive? Is the foundation really strong enough to keep our building erect?
But when an individual, or the Jewish people as a whole - as in the story of the Golden Calf, resolves to rectify the situation, to turn disaster into opportunity, you come out stronger than ever before. And that pitfall is what was needed to catapult you to even greater heights. One step back, 2 steps forward.
It's the story of Purim. It's the story of our nation. Let's make it our story.
Wishing you a good Shabbos and Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Dovid Bush
Clock Change Musings
2:00am. And just like that, it's 3:00am (unless you live in Hawaii or Arizona).
Like a flick of a switch, reality can change instantly. Dark can become light, a telephone ring can be that long awaited business deal, or how about the magic of "will you marry me"?
The Holiday of Purim, (happening this Sunday - we hope you join us for an awesome celebration), is all about that inner clock change.
Things were not going 
well for our ancestors. Exiled to Persia, under the reign of Kind Achashverosh, who was receiving guidance from his wicked advisor, Haman. The decree looming in front of them, with the date of their annihilation fast approaching.
When did things change? What was the catalyst of their salvation? An inner clock change.
The Jews of Persia had all but given up. Far away from their homeland, the Holy Temple lying in ruins, they did not have the strength to fight, nor the will to maintain their Jewish identity. Invited to the royal feast, they took pleasure in finally blending in with the Persian nightlife. When Haman arrogantly commanded all to bow before him, there was nothing left in their fight tank.
That is, until Mordechai brazenly refused to bow or kneel. Suddenly, with newfound inspiration, their collective inner switch was activated. Their inner compass recalibrated. We have values that we must stand up for and traditions that we must uphold. No Haman can hold us back, and no Achashverosh can silence our Jewish pride. With this fortitude, Esther was able to enter the king's throne room unannounced and exonerate her nation. In the words of the megillah "v'nahafoch hu" - things were turned completely around.
The message of Purim is clear: Jewish pride in the face of evil can go a long way. And when the going gets tough, remember that it can all change with click of a button - an inner clock change.
Wishing you a good Shabbos and the Happiest Purim!
Rabbi Dovid Bush
Fake News
With all the talk about fake news, it got me thinking. No, this isn't going to be yet another political rant. But let's talk about being fake.
Should we always express our true feelings? Should we always speak exactly what's on our mind? When we're not in the best space, should we display that to the world? How does "fake it till you make it" correlate with being authentic?
To explore this, let's travel to the desert, to the pop-up temple the Jews built. There, in the Holy of Holies - only the High Priest entered it, and only on the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur - was one piece of furniture: The Ark.
The ark was essentially a golden box covered with 2 angel like cherubim. Inside were some of the most important Jewish artifacts, including the Tablets with the Ten Commandments, the very first Torah transcribed by Moses himself, and a portion of the Manna to be preserved for all generations.
Actually, the Ark was made of three boxes that fit into each other. The inner one was solid gold, the outer one was also pure gold, while the center was made of acacia wood. Why the wooden layer, if it was never to be seen?
We are made up of layers, much like the ark itself. Our innermost layer, the Soul, is perfect - pure gold. Then we have our conscious self, our feelings, emotions, and thoughts. This level may have a more natural, unfinished look. Finally, we have our outer layer, the way we connect to the rest of the world.
Should we put on a golden smile when inside we feel "wooden"? Is it hypocritical to act kind and loving when that might not reflect our inner emotions? Should we act calm when there is burning anger? Or should we let loose our genuine feelings?
The message of the ark is clear. Take positive action, and it will actually influence and transform the way you feel. When we act "golden" we create internal change.
So go ahead and smile and it will leave you in a better mood. Act calm, and feel the anger dissipate. Do an act of kindness and watch as you begin to feel empathy and love.
Because in truth, you aren’t really acting. Deep down, your inner self is pure gold.
Wishing you a golden Shabbos!
Rabbi Dovid Bush