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

Out of Gas

Friday, July 21, 2017 - 9:00 AM

My car broke down.

We all know the feeling. Whether your phone's battery is depleted, or you're driving down the freeway (happened to me this week), and your car stops responding to the gentle pushes on the pedal.

Perhaps it's midday and it feels like you haven't eaten in days. Or it's Friday and you find yourself emotionally drained from a stressful week.

Nothing is broken. No mechanic or doctor necessary. Just a simple charge. The need to plug in, to refuel, to reenergize a powerful and capable device, vehicle, or body.

So simple, yet when you find yourself on the side of a mountain road (without cell phone reception), gas stations seem like the coolest inventions. When hiking through the desert, we suddenly appreciate the life nourishing quality of water.

The Torah this week enumerates the 42 stops that the Jews made as they traveled through the desert. While in the desert, they had everything they needed. Heavenly manna for food, a rock that acted as a spring, clouds for protection and temperature control, and plenty of time for Torah and inspiration. It was like being constantly plugged into a charging pod.

It was only when they entered the Land of Israel and real life began, that self-awareness and mindfulness became a necessity. Do I have enough to sustain me for the next phase of my life? Do I have enough "juice" to get me to the next stop?

Shabbat is just that opportunity to recharge. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Wishing you a re-Jew-vinating Shabbos and a fantastic week!

The Ferris Wheel

Friday, July 14, 2017 - 9:00 AM

We are thrilled to announce the printing of Petaluma's JEWISH ART CALENDAR! See more information just below this letter.

Why is the Jewish Calendar so complicated?

Is Rosh Hashanah in September or is it in October? Will Passover coincide with Spring Break? Whose bright idea was it to have a calendar different than the rest of the civilized world?

There's a beautiful reason behind all the seeming confusion, and why Thanksgivukkah is such a rarity. The regular calendar follows the solar system with 365 days, while the Jewish calendar goes according to the lunar cycle of 29½ days.

Without getting into all the technicalities (did you know that your English and Jewish birthday coincide only once in 19 years?), the underlying question is why do we operate based on a moon centered system?

It's because the moon encapsulates the spirit of the Jewish People. At times things may not be so bright, the situation may dim, the reality that surrounds us may cast us into total darkness and oblivion. Yet we don't give up. Rather, out of the gloom and blackness, we experience a renewal, emerging once again as a waxing crescent, shining brighter every day.

In August of 1940, the Previous Rebbe used the following analogy to encourage Mr. Harry Hirsh, Chief-Editor of the newspaper Das Yiddeshe Licht (The Jewish Light). The newspaper had gone bankrupt, leaving Mr. Hirsh in a state of depression close to despair.

In Vienna, there is a famous attraction called the “Riesenrad”, a Giant Ferris Wheel, a landmark of the Austrian Capital. Its silhouette rises to the sky and is seen from afar. High above the ground, cabins with glass walls are attached to the wheel providing the rider a panoramic view. As the wheel begins to rotate the attached cabins turn too. At its pinnacle height, it offers a magnificent view of the entire city and the landscape beyond.

Life is like a cosmic Ferris Wheel. If we find ourselves at rock bottom, with those stunning views a faint and distant memory, we need only look at the moon and realize that the day will soon come when our cabin too will reach the top.

Fireworks Musings

Friday, July 7, 2017 - 9:00 AM

How many "Likes" can I get?

As I sat with my 3 boys watching the 4th of July fireworks show, I noticed some people next to me watching the same show - but on their phone screens, as they facebook live'd (video shared) the spectacle to their worldwide audience.

Social Media has led to a whole new way of engagement. It has brought the world closer together, enabled us to keep up with our high school friends, and allows us to pick up the conversation with people we haven't seen in years.

But what should I share? Should I post that once in a lifetime dream vacation, or should I post the Instagram-worthy recipe that I just couldn't keep to myself? Should I use it to display my life in its entirety, or leave an occasional snapshot?

Similarly, it has allowed us a view into other people's lives good enough to compete with a tabloid magazine.

מה טובו אהליך יעקב - How wonderful are your tents, Jacob!

Bilam - a non-Jewish prophet - was hired by King Balak to curse the Jews. Try as he might, each time he opened his mouth filled with hate the most wonderful blessing issued forth. Among them the above line.

The Midrash explains that the inspiration for this blessing was seeing the setup of the Jewish camp. Each tent was set up in such a way that no two openings faced each other. Care was taken to be modest and respect the privacy of others.

I'm not advocating against Facebook (Mark Zuckerburg is a great guy 😊), Twitter, or any of the other myriads of platforms. It's awesome that we can connect so easily. And isn't this a great video? That being said, let's be like the desert Jews and be mindful of what's in our own tent before sharing it with the rest of the world. Sometimes it's ok to enjoy the family and the experiences without the intermediary of a camera lens. We might find the experience that much more powerful.

Now feel free to Like and Share this! 😉