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

Shana Tova Wishes!

Thursday, September 26, 2019 - 9:00 AM

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Rosh Hashanah. The new year. A day of judgment.

Typically, one imagines a heavenly courtroom, a somber atmosphere, a cloudy day, and we are the ones on trial. The prosecuting angels come in carrying bundles of our deficiencies and shortcoming, placing them on one side of an oversized celestial scale. An uncertain fate awaits us if we are found guilty.

Hardly a New Year's celebration...

What 's really going on is that we are working on this hand-in-hand. Much like a cashier must review inventory with the store owner to know which products were less profitable, like a businessman doing bookkeeping with his accountant to see where to invest, or a teacher marking a student's exam to identify which areas need additional focus. Like a basketball player watching replays with the sports coach, or a soldier analyzing military strategy with her general.

In each one of these cases, the goal is never to declare failure. Rather it is is to identify how to succeed.

September 26, 2019 - 2.jpg The more dramatic the scenario, the more imperative it is to work through it, to problem solve, learn some new tricks, explore new options, battle through any challenges, and achieve ultimate success.

On Rosh Hashanah, we come before The King, the master strategist, who gave us each a mission to fulfill, to develop a plan of action for the coming year, how we can have the best year yet. While we may need to address some past issues, the goal is way too important to allow us to get stuck on a couple of missteps. And of course He wants us in the game. After all, He hand-picked us for this position, because He believes in us.

Devorah and I wish you a good and a sweet new year and look forward to celebrating together with you!

My Mom’s Whistle

Friday, September 13, 2019 - 9:00 AM

There is a beautiful custom to blow the Shofar each day during the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah. It gets us into High Holiday mode. You can't just show up to the Olympics without a bit of training first.

So this week, as I blew the Shofar in the hospital for a dear friend, the obvious question was what did the nurses and other patients think of this September 20, 2019.png strange sound? What is the significance of the Shofar?

There are many reasons; the wailing sound encourages feelings of remorse for past wrongs or missed opportunities. The trumpeting blasts are like royal fanfare at king's coronation, as we once again recommit to our relationship with Hashem. But here's a personal reflection.

When we were kids, my mother of blessed memory taught us to recognize a unique whistle that she had learned from her dad. This became our safety net, a means to connect above the ruckus of our surroundings. Went down the wrong grocery aisle? The whistle would lead us back. Separated on a hike or at our favorite game farm in the Catskills? The familiarity of the whistle guided us back to her soothing presence.

So for me this year, I'll be thinking about how the Shofar is our distinctive signal. While a passerby on the street (or in a hospital hallway) may be wondering about this particular instrument and pattern of sounds, it's really a pretty simple explanation.

We are just finding each other.

#YOLO

Friday, September 13, 2019 - 9:00 AM

Nope, not Yolo County, our not so distant neighbor to the east.I'm referring to an expression that you may have overheard when passing a college campus, or spotted as your teenaged nephew was texting a friend.

Yolo stands for You Only Live Once, and is oftentimes used to ignore possible consequences. That dangerous voyage through the Amazon rainforest? Gotta do it, after all, Yolo. Eat an oversized piece of (admittedly delicious) chocolate cake (or babka)? Yolo. Party until all hours on the night before an exam? Yolo.

But there's another way of using this curious expression.

This is your moment to shine. You are here for a reason. Someone believes in you, and you are the only one who can get the job done. You have a unique contribution to bring to the world. And now is the time to do it. After all, YOLO - You Only Live Once.

So as the High Holidays are approaching (only 2 weeks away - Reserve your seats to services and Rosh Hashanah dinner!), pause for a moment to reflect on the Must Do's on your list. Making time for the people you love? Yolo. Doing an act of kindness for someone you need? Yolo. Making your corner of the world shine brighter? Yolo.

Carpool Musings

Friday, September 6, 2019 - 9:00 AM

Back to carpool!

Do I sound too excited? The kids did go back to school this week, and it's Bella's first year in Kindergarten, so she is thrilled.

With Bay Area traffic developing more quickly than the 101 expansion (shocker), it gives one plenty of time to ponder. And this time I was thinking about my Uber driver. Last time I took an Uber, I noticed how the light-footed driver seemed to be in no rush to actually get to the destination, even leaving more than one car length in front of his Prius. Why no excessive September 6, 2019.jpeg lane changes, gunning engines to maintain the upper realm of the speed limit, and craning necks to see why there's traffic up ahead?

And then I realized just how relaxed of a ride this was. A serene atmosphere in the midst of toxic emissions and noisy chaos. The ride itself was an experience, not just shuttling me to one. And ultimately, we reached our destination right on time, minus the stress and nerves.

As we approach the New Year, let's resolve to live in the moment. Sure there are a million and one things awaiting our attention, but when Shabbat comes and the candles are lit, the glow suspends time for serenity and peace. When your daughter "interrupts" you with a childish question, your task should fade into the background for a moment of connection. When the Shofar blasts, instead of looking at our watches, let us look into our hearts, reflect upon the many blessings we have, and pray for an even better year for ourselves and those we cherish.

Happy carpool!