Second Chances.
I remember a quote that I saw on a magnet when I was a child. AN ERЯOR DOES NOT BECOME A MISTAKE UNTIL YOU REFUSE TO FIX IT.
Not getting things right the first time around is totally normal. In fact, it's inherent in human nature. Angels never make mistakes. But the cool thing about us is that we can gro
w from our mistakes. Should we be defined by first attempts, or should we choose not to settle?
This is the story of the Second Passover.
When it came time to celebrate the very first Passover after leaving Egypt, there was a group of Jews who were ritually impure, and as such, could not participate in the celebration. They could have simply thrown up their hands in surrender, and simply missed out. Instead, however, they came to Moses with a demand - they did not want to be left out.
This is how we were introduced to the Second Passover - an opportunity to celebrate one month after the first Passover. And with it, the powerful message, that if we only so much as want it, we are always granted a second chance.
This Sunday, a fantastic group of kids completes the year at Petaluma Hebrew, grabbing new opportunity to explore and discover the Alef Bet, the Jewish holidays, and so much about our rich traditions and history.
From the Rabbi's Desk
Second Passover
To be or Be!
Be holy! Now that's an interesting instruction.
How do I do that? When a Jewish mother tells her child to be a doctor, that's straightforward enough. You've got to go through medical school, complete a residency, and work your way up the ladder of medicine until you get that MD status.
But when your mom tells you to "be special", you probably turn around with a confused look on your face and ask for clarification. Am I not already special? And if not, what are the GPS coordinates of special?
Everything in the world can be divided into three categories. Good, bad, and neutral. Our focus should be on that middle category. To take the ordinary and make it special. Sure, it's just wax on a string, but a woman can use it to bring the Light of Shabbat into her home. Yes, it may look like a simple piece of parchment, but instead, it will adorn the doorpost of my home, transforming it into a Jewish home. Taking a coin and upgrading it from pocket change to Charity. Eating a healthy breakfast so that we can then have a productive day, doing good deeds along the way.
So holiness is not just something we do on the High Holidays in a designated building. It's a direction that we can move ourselves and the world around us in. Let's mindfully make this world special.