Tonight we resume First Fridays, an uplifting Shabbat evening service, with melody inspiration, and something that we missed the last couple of weeks - Challah! (7pm - 1970 Rainier Circle)
In fact, the Shabbat after Passover we have 
a custom to make a "Schlissel Challah" - Yiddish for "key challah", symbolic of G-d opening his storehouse of blessings to rain down upon us. May we be blessed with health, prosperity, and peace and may all our prayers be answered!
On the 2nd evening of Passover, we begin "counting theOmer", a countdown (or rather a count-up) from the Exodus to the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. The count demonstrated the Jews' anticipation and excitement for the momentous day.
During the times of the Holy Temple, it was highlighted by special offerings of flour from the new harvest. (Fun fact #207: The Jewish Calendar revolves around Passover always being in the spring, at the time of harvest).
Yet, despite its ancient origins, we continue to do this Mitzvah every year, counting each of the 49 days leading up to Holiday of Shavuot, when we commemorate the giving of the Torah. Why?
The 49-day journey to receive the Torah was not merely a physical one, but a transformative period for mind and soul. Leaving the slave mentality and the immorality that was Egypt and ascending to a state where they were compared to angels.
This was accomplished through a meticulous 49-step refinement process, each day focusing on a specific character trait, habit or behavior, effectively turning them into a completely new entity - The Jewish Nation.
This journey of self-introspection - corresponding to the 7 Kabbalistic heavenly spheres, each one subdivided into 7, is just as relevant today. The Torah does not allow us to become satisfied with our current level of spirituality. Instead, it tells us to set high goals for ourselves, and then methodically strive to reach that goal.
More info on this special process: www.JewishPetaluma.com/Omer
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Dovid Bush