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This is the time of year, in late January and early February, when we read the story of the Exodus from Egypt. Why, we ask, do we read this torah portion now, months before we celebrate Passover? Perhaps it is to plant the seed, to let the story of our freedom from slavery incubate long before we set our tables for the seder.

Passover is not only Z'man Herutenu, the time of our Freedom, but  Hag HaAviv, the holiday of spring. On Passover, we renew our faith in life after the dead of winter. 

I looked at a tree outside of my window today that seemed moribund from a distance. The leaves were brown, rustling on the branches. But at the top there was a crown of small green leaves, the Tu B’shavet promise of spring. By Passover, this tree will be in full bloom.

Sometimes, it takes a long time for a community to blossom. Ideas planted years ago come to fruition slowly. Imagine how long it took to build our building! The nucleus of the idea was planted over twenty years ago, and the actual building process took over ten years to complete.

We are still in the final phase of completion of our kitchen and finishing our interior. The good news is that we have been living in our light filled space for three years now. It would not have happened if a group of visionaries had not planted the seed.

So much has come to fruition in our synagogue in these past few years. Small seeds were planted, ideas that did not immediately “take”, that are now pillars of our community. When I came here almost fourteen years ago, only the Rabbi, and one community member, Walter Young, (Z”l)  could read torah. Now, our bimah is filled with adults and teens that read Torah, week after week.

There was no Saturday morning service without a bar/bat mitzvah. At this point, torah study and Shabbat prayer are such a part of our synagogue life that we cannot imagine it any other way.

The Cantor has transformed our High Holiday choir from a few paid vocalists to an enthusiastic congregant choir that can hardy fit on the bimah.  Our experimental  Jewish Ethics class at 7:30 AM on Thursdays has grow from a seed into a sapling that can’t be moved. Mourning? In Malibu? Who knew?

Long ago, we planted the idea of a “homegrown” organic Purimspeil. This will be the second year that the Cantor produces an original play written by Steve Krashen, performed by our brilliant ensemble. Some trees lie dormant for a while, and return. We are thrilled to have our Purim Carnival back on the premises on March….. , upholding a long tradition of community participation.

The Torah instructs the Israelites to tell the story of Passover to their children and their children’s children, planting the seed of our Seder at the very beginning of our history as a people.

Each generation must then nurture and retell the story in its own way, preserving and incubating the idea of freedom for the next generation. It is Tu B’shevat and the rains are here. May all of the seeds, which you have planted, bloom into an incredible Passover season.

Hag Sameach

RABBI JUDITH