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

Anchors

Friday, December 22, 2023 - 9:00 AM

Anchors. A brilliant invention that allows a ship to survive stormy seas without being battered against perilous rocks jutting out of waters.

It's a reality check. While the shipbuilder surely had all the confidence in the world that his vessel was seaworthy, it would be foolish to head out on a voyage without an emergency preparedness kit, thus ensuring the safety of those on board, despite what any external forces may throw their way.

Once these measures (markers on a hiking trail, GPS trackers, the North Star) are in place, one can traverse treacherous terrain and yet remain on course.

This is precisely what Jacob did prior to going to Egypt. Aware that Egypt wouldn't be a walk in the park for the fledgling Jewish Nation, Jacob sent Judah to establish a place to study Torah. This would be their anchor. This would ensure that they would be able to rise to any challenges. That they would be like a buoy and float blissfully above any waves.

It is for this reason, that Jacob was able to live his 17 best years in the Land of Egypt. Reunited with Joseph, and equipped with the proper toolset to "win" at life, even Egypt couldn't put a damper on it.

So in our own lives, let's find that anchor that holds us strong in the face of adversity. Whether it's Shabbat with your family, a weekly Torah study session, or any of the 611 other Mitzvahs, we have the ability to plug in and weather any storm. Rising above the fray, above the darkened clouds, where the now distant noise doesn't faze us.

The morning after.

Thursday, December 14, 2023 - 9:00 AM

The morning after.

We did it. We pierced through the darkness. Introduced a new reality called light. We built on that success, expanding the warmth to a bright, glowing environment.

And tonight, we put the exclamation mark on Chanukah, proclaiming that we are not satisfied if there is a single corner that is not illuminated. We are not content if one person's light is dim, feeling lonely and distant. Everyone has a place at the table. Everyone is invited to the party. It is only truly light, when there' no experience outside of that.

But then, what happens tomorrow night? How can we possibly go back to no light, no menorah? Did we gain all of that ground just to revert back to the pre-chanukah madness? Did we get all that buoyancy just to once again be defined by the laws of gravity?

No. To the contrary. We have so staked the claim in the field of light, that now light is the new normal. We don't need to light the Menorah, because we are the Menorah. We take the inspiration of Chanukah so much to heart, that tomorrow night, and all through the long nights of winter, we stay warm and glowing.

So join us tomorrow evening for a Community Shabbat Dinner as the eighth day of Chanukah concludes; as we don't allow its light to wane. We enter right into the Shabbat lights, holding on to the power, luminance, and joy of Chanukah.

If the Candles Could Speak

Friday, December 8, 2023 - 9:00 AM

If the Candles Could Speak

As the flames dance atop the Chanukah lights, and I gaze into them, I imagine what the uniques message of each of the candles might be.

Naturally, the 1st Candle is a trailblazer, a Maccabee, forging ahead despite all odds. This candle shines in stark contrast to the heavy darkness surrounding it.

When Candle #2 comes into play, we realize that with a partner in the quest for light, it is warmer. It is brighter. The dense fog is beginning to lift. Together they resolve to introduce Candle #3. The troops are beginning to rally. Light is no longer a dream. It is a mission.

With Candle #4, it seems like we are finally shifting the equilibrium. The Menorah is balanced. And though half still remain unlit, the darkness already knows that it doesn't stand a chance against the confident advances of light. This is proven on night #5 when the scales tip in favor of truth, positivity, love, and kindness.

By the time Candle #6 is lit, it seems like we are unstoppable. Nothing will get in the way of eradicating darkness and evil.

As we light Candle #7, we enter into a full sprint towards the ultimate finish line. And as Candle #8 leaps to greet the Shamash (leader candle), the world practically explodes in a dazzling light show as victory is achieved.

This may seem like a distant dream, wishful thinking in a chaotic world. Yet, when we each light a Menorah in our own home, this journey becomes a reality for our own family. Displayed proudly in windows and doorways, it extends to our neighbors. And as the streets fill with light, a community of light warriors (present-day Maccabees) emerges.

Tonight, coupled with the light of the Shabbat candles, the path of light will expand. And the unstoppable force of Candle #2, from homes across Petaluma, along with the Community Menorah standing watch over the Petaluma River for the ninth year, will race across the hills and join cities around the world from the original public Menorah lit by Chabad in SF's Union Square since 1974 (we brought a stretch hummer Chanukah limousine filled with teenagers last night - see photos below!), to the menorah at the Eiffel Tower, in Rome, and the Brandenberg Gate in Berlin.

So share the light; with your family, neighbors, and extended circles, and let's create a world overpowered by a unanimous quest for light.