It was 3 years ago to the day from this Sunday. We stopped at a random exit on the 5 Interstate for a much-needed stretch. We were heading for a rendezvous with our moving truck that was due to arrive in Petaluma in a few hours.
As the kids swang merrily on a tire swing that seemed to have been waiting for young ones to wake it from its sleep, I was lost in thought.
What would Petaluma really be like? Would we succeed in bringing smiles and joy? Could our hopeful and ambitious efforts grow into a community? What surprises and treasures might we encounter in this uncharted territory? Would our faith and good spirits allow us to sail the waves and plant the beautiful garden we envisioned?
Fast forward three years and this very Sunday, nearly 20 children will embark on yet another exhilarating journey in the form of Petaluma Hebrew - a weekly fun-ducational program to inspire the kids with their rich tradition and history.
How apropos that this Shabbat we read Bereishit - how the world came into being. The midrash points out that the world was created in a raw, natural, unfinished state. This was intentionally so that we may be partners in the very fabric of the world. It is up to us through vision, ingenuity, creativity, and wisdom to fix up the world. We take sounds and make music, colors and create art, fields and create farms and gardens, kindness and create Love. It is our purpose to change the world around us for the better.
It would take pages to describe the incredible growth, the powerful friendships, the unbelievable moments that we have shared since ou
r arrival in Petaluma (that's whatfacebook is for 😉). We feel incredibly blessed to live in such an amazing community, without whom, none of this would be possible. The cliché is absolutely true - it's not a comm_nity without U.
Looking forward to many more years of the growth and expansion of the Petaluma Jewish community together with you!
Come and celebrate at tonight's First Fridays, 6pm.
ב"ה