RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: VA'EIRA: PERSONAL REDEMPTION

 

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: VA'EIRA: PERSONAL REDEMPTION

 

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: CHUMASH CANDESCENCE:  PARASHA VA'EIRA: EXODUS 6:02-9:35

 

CHUMASH CANDESCENCE
 PARASHA VA'EIRA
EXODUS 6:02-9:35

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL

 

Shabbat Shalom:

Rabbi Arthur Segal_

 www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org_ (http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org/ ) 

Jewish Renewal_ 

www.jewishrenewal.info(http://www.jewishrenewal.info/ ) 

Jewish Spiritual Renewal

Jewish Spirituality

Eco Judaism

Hilton Head Island, SC,  Bluffton, SC, Savannah,  GA

 

   

''Redemption: Divinely Given or Personally Driven?''

In this week's Torah portion, in lines 6:06-6:08,God promises to redeem
us from Egypt in four ways. These four ways are remembered in the four cups
of  wine that we drink at our Pesach seders. Rabbi Bachya says that 'I shall
take  you out' refers to God removing us from slavery while we were still in
Egypt.  (The slavery ended in Tishrai but we were not allowed to leave Egypt
until  Nissan six months later.)

 

 The Rav says that 'I will rescue you' refers to
God  taking us out of Egypt formally ending our bondage and sojourn in
Mitzraim. He further states that 'I shall redeem you' alludes to the splitting of
the  sea of reeds when God crushed Egyptian power totally. Lastly, Rabbi
Bachya says that 'I shall take you' refers to the climax of the Exodus, the
giving  of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. God says He will gave us a Heritage (06:08),
which  is more than a mere inheritance, but a sacred possession to be
continually  passed to our children. In the Haamek D'var, this heritage is said to
mean the land of Israel and our eternal deed to it. Others posit that this
heritage is Torah. Most others  say it means both.

We as modern Jews are quite aware of the Torah's rituals and cult of
priests and sacrifice that we took upon ourselves when our movement was founded
in  the last millennium  to reform and
continually reevaluate, question and amend. We have not abandoned our Heritage of
Torah but tightly hold on to it's wonderful timeless principles.

Each day we have a duty to be the best that we can be and to develop
redeeming qualities. We are in charge of our own daily redemption. There
is a  Midrash that says when we go to Olam Ha Ba, the world to come, we will
not be  asked 'were you like Moses or David', but 'were you the best YOU'. We can
not  use the excuse that we are in a society of moral decay or materialism and
hence find it hard to be a good modern Jew. Rabbi Hillel writes in the
Mishna Pirkei Avot, Chapter 2:06 "in a place where there are no leaders, strive
to be a leader." This was written during the Roman occupation of Judea.

If we wish to we can take ourselves out of the rat race we are in, slaves
to our schedules, credit card bills,big screen televisions, and computer
email.

If we wish to we can release and rescue ourselves from the subjugation of
abusive or hyper critical people and those of our acquaintances that vex
our  spirit. We can choose to spend time with those that are supportive of our
lives and our interests and help us be the best we can be. We tend to
spend  the most time on those that appreciate us the least. We have with in us
the power to rescue ourselves from these uncomfortable situations.

`If we will it, we can redeem ourselves forever from those bad habits and
self destructive behaviors that keep us being the best our potential will
allow. We can make a concerted effort  to stop our lashon ha ra
(gossiping), and petty jealousies that not only do not belong in any
Temple but do not belong in our lives at all. We can attempt successfully to
substitute positive behaviors if we deem it our will.

Lastly, we can take ourselves to Torah and read the great principles set
forth in it. We can try to emulate the characteristics of God, who is
our creator. We can be kinder, we can be more honest, we can be more patient,
we can be more understanding, we can be better friends, better spouses,
better parents, better Jews and better people. We can decide to make Jewish
study a  regular part of our week, and eventually part of our day. We can decide
to attend Temple more than we have had in the past. We can decide to light
Shabbat candles and reflect on our Holy heritage. We can decide to take
time out for rest and reflection.

Moses saw how our people could not understand him due to "their shortness
of  breath and hard work" (06:09). So take time out for reflection and
shabbat rest this year. Get to really know your family again, get in touch with
your best self again, and finally develop that spiritual oneness with your
personal God that will help you always.

Yasher Koach!!!

Shabbat shalom!!
RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL 

 

Shabbat Shalom:

Rabbi Arthur Segal_

 www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org_ (http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org/ ) 

Jewish Renewal_ 

www.jewishrenewal.info(http://www.jewishrenewal.info/ ) 

Jewish Spiritual Renewal

Jewish Spirituality

Eco Judaism

Hilton Head Island, SC,  Bluffton, SC, Savannah,  GA

 

If visiting SC's Low Country, contact us for a Shabbat meal, in our home by the sea, our beth yam.

 

Maker  of Shalom (Oseh Shalom) help make us deserving of Shalom beyond all human  comprehension!

 

Rabbi Arthur Segal www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org
Jewish Renewal www.jewishrenewal.info
Jewish Spiritual Renewal http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com
Jewish Spirituality
Eco Judaism
Hilton Head Island, SC, Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: AVOIDING A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES

 

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: AVOIDING A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES

 

Jewish  Spiritual  Renewal:

  

  Derek  Eretz Zuta + Rabbah:

  

 Shabbat  1/21/12 

 

 (aka  Derech  Eretz )

  

 

  

Shalom  my dear Chaverim, Talmidim, v' Rabbanim, friends, students and fellow rabbis: 

  

An oneg, joy-filled, Shabbat this coming weekend to all. I hope you had a spiritually renewed Chanukah and  a wonderful holiday season and New Year. 

  

We continue with our exploration into the Talmudic Tractates of Derek Eretz Zuta and Rabbah. (aka Derech Eretz Zuta, aka Derech Eretz Rabbah.  As was mentioned, zuta is Aramaic for 'small', and rabbah is 'large').

  

Remember that Derek Eretz is not about Jewish ritual. It is  about how we are to treat one another and what traits of character, middot, we  are to try to develop. The lessons are universal and ecumenical. The  development of character traits and Jewish spiritual renewal  transformation is called  Mussar.

  

For  those new to the class Baruch ha Ba! Welcome! You can access last  week's class at  Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH RENEWAL: LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS. LOVE OTHERS, LOVE GOD  or http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2011/11/rabbi-arthur-segal-jewish-renewal-love.html

 

 

  

From  here you will find links to preceding classes in this series. So, together we continue:

  

 TALMUD  BAVLI

  

 TRACTATE 

  

 DEREk ERETZ  ZUTA

  

 (aka  Derech  Eretz)

  

Today we will begin  CHAPTER 6 of Talmud  Bavli Tractate Derek Eretz Zuta Verse  6:1. This also marks the start of the 2nd Fourth of this Commentary on Derek Eretz Zuta. The first of these four volumes is being readied for publication.

 

 6:1 : ''Four things are derogatory to scholars: to walk alone in the dark (and arouse suspicion); to be perfumed; to be the last in entering a prayer-house, and to hold much discourse at a confederacy of dunces.''

As we have discussed before, as modern educated Jews, what are good character traits for rabbis and scholars are good for all of us.

Four things are listed that one should not do. The list is clear but the 'why' is not given. Other texts of Talmud give the reasons.

Walking alone in the dark on a dark city street in ancient Babylonia or Judea only invites trouble. One of course can be robbed or killed. But the text says ''arouse suspicion.'' What suspicion are we arousing?

Human nature is the same today as it was 2500 years ago. While we are not to gossip, do lashon ha ra, people do. If a rabbi was seen out at night alone, while some might think he was doing bikur cholem (visiting the sick), others may spread rumors that the rabbi was ''up to no good.'' We always need to be aware of the Talmudic concept, as we have discussed, of Ma'arit Ayin, what looks good to the eye.

And what of being perfumed? Again we have Ma'arit Ayin at play here. One could smell of perfume because he was in the company of women wearing perfume, or with men. Judaism doesn't condemn homosexuality but it does augment chasteness. One being with either men or women who are so perfumed that the aroma spreads to one's person can lead another to draw untoward inferences about one's sexual behavior. 

We are taught in the Talmud that we should run  to go to Synagogue, but to leave it slowly. One who is continually late to Synagogue is giving non-verbal information that there may be something of more value to him than prayer or study. This can harm one's reputation and effectiveness in teaching or serving on  a Beth Din.

The rabbis were very concerned about speech and how things could be taken out of context. They taught us to say little but do much. Time and time again they warn us of idle talk, especially with those who would only argue with us. They tell us not to argue with Sadducees , those who do not believe in Talmudic Rabbinic Judaism, and even not to have idle talk with unschooled women. In this case we are being warned not to have ''much'' discourse at a confederacy of dunces.

The rabbis always tell us to great every person with a smile and a sincere shalom. We are told of rabbis who would be in the market place and be the first to greet Roman soldiers. So the rabbis are not telling us to ignore, what in Hebrew they call am ha eretz, people of the land, uneducated people. The sages don't want us beating a dead horse trying to explain things to folks who are too thick to understand, or too set in their ways to allow their minds to be open to new concepts. All that happens is we anger these closed minded people. As George Bernard Shaw wrote :"Most people would rather die than think, and most do.''

The above adage is useful to remember when trying to explain to someone that their particular minhag tradition, may be binding on their community, but it is not real halakah, being bound to all. Few will understand this. And it is also very important during emotional times of elections, be they national, local, or even in a synagogue. A learned rabbi, in Tractate Sanhedrin, '' is first likened by the Jewish dunce to a vase of gold; if he converses with him, he is looked upon as a vase of silver; and if he accepts a service from him, he is regarded as a vase of earth."  The adage of not throwing pearls before swine applies here. By wasting time with those who's minds are closed, we are depriving another who wants to learn, of our time.

We discuss these middot, character traits of mar'rit ayin and avoid arguing with people, throughout the majority of chapters in  ''The  Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern  Jew'' ' (http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/ )  as well as in most chapters of ''A  Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud''  

(http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/index.html#Compendium2 ) .

  

What are your ideas about  passing the message of and becoming spiritually awakened?  How has learning Talmud's Derek Eretz helped you in your  interpersonal  relationships? How  has understanding the spiritual and ethical teachings of  Judaism helped you live a more joyous life? 

  

Next class, Baruch ha Shem, we will continue with Derek Eretz Zuta, Chapter SIX. Thank you for joining me.

 

For those who want a d'var Torah on Parasha Va'eira   from '''A  Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and  Talmud'' please click on

Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: CHUMASH CANDESCENCE: PARASHA VA'EIRA: EXODUS 6:02-9:35 

or  

http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2008/02/chumash-candescense-parasha-vaeira.html

 

 

 

Shabbat Shalom:

Rabbi Arthur Segal_

 www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org_ (http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org/ ) 

Jewish Renewal_ 

www.jewishrenewal.info(http://www.jewishrenewal.info/ ) 

Jewish Spiritual Renewal

Jewish Spirituality

Eco Judaism

Hilton Head Island, SC,  Bluffton, SC, Savannah,  GA

 

If visiting SC's Low Country, contact us for a Shabbat meal, in our home by the sea, our beth yam.

 

Maker  of Shalom (Oseh Shalom) help make us deserving of Shalom beyond all human comprehension!!  

 

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: VA'EIRA: FREE FROM BONDAGE OF SELF

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: VA'EIRA: FREE FROM BONDAGE OF SELF

 

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: CHUMASH CANDESCENCE:  PARASHA VA'EIRA: EXODUS 6:02-9:35

 

CHUMASH CANDESCENCE
 PARASHA VA'EIRA
EXODUS 6:02-9:35

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL

 

Shabbat Shalom:

Rabbi Arthur Segal_

 www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org_ (http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org/ ) 

Jewish Renewal_ 

www.jewishrenewal.info(http://www.jewishrenewal.info/ ) 

Jewish Spiritual Renewal

Jewish Spirituality

Eco Judaism

Hilton Head Island, SC,  Bluffton, SC, Savannah,  GA

 

   

''Redemption: Divinely Given or Personally Driven?''

In this week's Torah portion, in lines 6:06-6:08,God promises to redeem
us from Egypt in four ways. These four ways are remembered in the four cups
of  wine that we drink at our Pesach seders. Rabbi Bachya says that 'I shall
take  you out' refers to God removing us from slavery while we were still in
Egypt.  (The slavery ended in Tishrai but we were not allowed to leave Egypt
until  Nissan six months later.)

 

 The Rav says that 'I will rescue you' refers to
God  taking us out of Egypt formally ending our bondage and sojourn in
Mitzraim. He further states that 'I shall redeem you' alludes to the splitting of
the  sea of reeds when God crushed Egyptian power totally. Lastly, Rabbi
Bachya says that 'I shall take you' refers to the climax of the Exodus, the
giving  of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. God says He will gave us a Heritage (06:08),
which  is more than a mere inheritance, but a sacred possession to be
continually  passed to our children. In the Haamek D'var, this heritage is said to
mean the land of Israel and our eternal deed to it. Others posit that this
heritage is Torah. Most others  say it means both.

We as modern Jews are quite aware of the Torah's rituals and cult of
priests and sacrifice that we took upon ourselves when our movement was founded
in  the last millennium  to reform and
continually reevaluate, question and amend. We have not abandoned our Heritage of
Torah but tightly hold on to it's wonderful timeless principles.

Each day we have a duty to be the best that we can be and to develop
redeeming qualities. We are in charge of our own daily redemption. There
is a  Midrash that says when we go to Olam Ha Ba, the world to come, we will
not be  asked 'were you like Moses or David', but 'were you the best YOU'. We can
not  use the excuse that we are in a society of moral decay or materialism and
hence find it hard to be a good modern Jew. Rabbi Hillel writes in the
Mishna Pirkei Avot, Chapter 2:06 "in a place where there are no leaders, strive
to be a leader." This was written during the Roman occupation of Judea.

If we wish to we can take ourselves out of the rat race we are in, slaves
to our schedules, credit card bills,big screen televisions, and computer
email.

If we wish to we can release and rescue ourselves from the subjugation of
abusive or hyper critical people and those of our acquaintances that vex
our  spirit. We can choose to spend time with those that are supportive of our
lives and our interests and help us be the best we can be. We tend to
spend  the most time on those that appreciate us the least. We have with in us
the power to rescue ourselves from these uncomfortable situations.

`If we will it, we can redeem ourselves forever from those bad habits and
self destructive behaviors that keep us being the best our potential will
allow. We can make a concerted effort  to stop our lashon ha ra
(gossiping), and petty jealousies that not only do not belong in any
Temple but do not belong in our lives at all. We can attempt successfully to
substitute positive behaviors if we deem it our will.

Lastly, we can take ourselves to Torah and read the great principles set
forth in it. We can try to emulate the characteristics of God, who is
our creator. We can be kinder, we can be more honest, we can be more patient,
we can be more understanding, we can be better friends, better spouses,
better parents, better Jews and better people. We can decide to make Jewish
study a  regular part of our week, and eventually part of our day. We can decide
to attend Temple more than we have had in the past. We can decide to light
Shabbat candles and reflect on our Holy heritage. We can decide to take
time out for rest and reflection.

Moses saw how our people could not understand him due to "their shortness
of  breath and hard work" (06:09). So take time out for reflection and
shabbat rest this year. Get to really know your family again, get in touch with
your best self again, and finally develop that spiritual oneness with your
personal God that will help you always.

Yasher Koach!!!

Shabbat shalom!!
RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL 

 

Shabbat Shalom:

Rabbi Arthur Segal_

 www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org_ (http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org/ ) 

Jewish Renewal_ 

www.jewishrenewal.info(http://www.jewishrenewal.info/ ) 

Jewish Spiritual Renewal

Jewish Spirituality

Eco Judaism

Hilton Head Island, SC,  Bluffton, SC, Savannah,  GA

 

If visiting SC's Low Country, contact us for a Shabbat meal, in our home by the sea, our beth yam.

 

Maker  of Shalom (Oseh Shalom) help make us deserving of Shalom beyond all human  comprehension!

 

Rabbi Arthur Segal www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org
Jewish Renewal www.jewishrenewal.info
Jewish Spiritual Renewal http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com
Jewish Spirituality
Eco Judaism
Hilton Head Island, SC, Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: ECO-JUDAISM: DEREK ERETZ: AVOID CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES

 

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: ECO-JUDAISM: DEREK ERETZ: AVOID CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES

 

Jewish  Spiritual  Renewal:

  

  Derek  Eretz Zuta + Rabbah:

  

 Shabbat  1/21/12 

 

 (aka  Derech  Eretz )

  

 

  

Shalom  my dear Chaverim, Talmidim, v' Rabbanim, friends, students and fellow rabbis: 

  

An oneg, joy-filled, Shabbat this coming weekend to all. I hope you had a spiritually renewed Chanukah and  a wonderful holiday season and New Year. 

  

We continue with our exploration into the Talmudic Tractates of Derek Eretz Zuta and Rabbah. (aka Derech Eretz Zuta, aka Derech Eretz Rabbah.  As was mentioned, zuta is Aramaic for 'small', and rabbah is 'large').

  

Remember that Derek Eretz is not about Jewish ritual. It is  about how we are to treat one another and what traits of character, middot, we  are to try to develop. The lessons are universal and ecumenical. The  development of character traits and Jewish spiritual renewal  transformation is called  Mussar.

  

For  those new to the class Baruch ha Ba! Welcome! You can access last  week's class at  Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH RENEWAL: LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS. LOVE OTHERS, LOVE GOD  or http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2011/11/rabbi-arthur-segal-jewish-renewal-love.html

 

 

  

From  here you will find links to preceding classes in this series. So, together we continue:

  

 TALMUD  BAVLI

  

 TRACTATE 

  

 DEREk ERETZ  ZUTA

  

 (aka  Derech  Eretz)

  

Today we will begin  CHAPTER 6 of Talmud  Bavli Tractate Derek Eretz Zuta Verse  6:1. This also marks the start of the 2nd Fourth of this Commentary on Derek Eretz Zuta. The first of these four volumes is being readied for publication.

 

 6:1 : ''Four things are derogatory to scholars: to walk alone in the dark (and arouse suspicion); to be perfumed; to be the last in entering a prayer-house, and to hold much discourse at a confederacy of dunces.''

As we have discussed before, as modern educated Jews, what are good character traits for rabbis and scholars are good for all of us.

Four things are listed that one should not do. The list is clear but the 'why' is not given. Other texts of Talmud give the reasons.

Walking alone in the dark on a dark city street in ancient Babylonia or Judea only invites trouble. One of course can be robbed or killed. But the text says ''arouse suspicion.'' What suspicion are we arousing?

Human nature is the same today as it was 2500 years ago. While we are not to gossip, do lashon ha ra, people do. If a rabbi was seen out at night alone, while some might think he was doing bikur cholem (visiting the sick), others may spread rumors that the rabbi was ''up to no good.'' We always need to be aware of the Talmudic concept, as we have discussed, of Ma'arit Ayin, what looks good to the eye.

And what of being perfumed? Again we have Ma'arit Ayin at play here. One could smell of perfume because he was in the company of women wearing perfume, or with men. Judaism doesn't condemn homosexuality but it does augment chasteness. One being with either men or women who are so perfumed that the aroma spreads to one's person can lead another to draw untoward inferences about one's sexual behavior. 

We are taught in the Talmud that we should run  to go to Synagogue, but to leave it slowly. One who is continually late to Synagogue is giving non-verbal information that there may be something of more value to him than prayer or study. This can harm one's reputation and effectiveness in teaching or serving on  a Beth Din.

The rabbis were very concerned about speech and how things could be taken out of context. They taught us to say little but do much. Time and time again they warn us of idle talk, especially with those who would only argue with us. They tell us not to argue with Pharisees, those who do not believe in Talmudic Rabbinic Judaism, and even not to have idle talk with unschooled women. In this case we are being warned not to have ''much'' discourse at a confederacy of dunces.

The rabbis always tell us to great every person with a smile and a sincere shalom. We are told of rabbis who would be in the market place and be the first to greet Roman soldiers. So the rabbis are not telling us to ignore, what in Hebrew they call am ha eretz, people of the land, uneducated people. The sages don't want us beating a dead horse trying to explain things to folks who are too thick to understand, or too set in their ways to allow their minds to be open to new concepts. All that happens is we anger these closed minded people. As George Bernard Shaw wrote :"Most people would rather die than think, and most do.''

The above adage is useful to remember when trying to explain to someone that their particular minhag tradition, may be binding on their community, but it is not real halakah, being bound to all. Few will understand this. And it is also very important during emotional times of elections, be they national, local, or even in a synagogue. A learned rabbi, in Tractate Sanhedrin, '' is first likened by the Jewish dunce to a vase of gold; if he converses with him, he is looked upon as a vase of silver; and if he accepts a service from him, he is regarded as a vase of earth."  The adage of not throwing pearls before swine applies here.

We discuss these middot, character traits of mar'rit ayin and avoid arguing with people, throughout the majority of chapters in  ''The  Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern  Jew'' ' (http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/ )  as well as in most chapters of ''A  Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud''  

(http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/index.html#Compendium2 ) .

  

What are your ideas about  passing the message of and becoming spiritually awakened?  How has learning Talmud's Derek Eretz helped you in your  interpersonal  relationships? How  has understanding the spiritual and ethical teachings of  Judaism helped you live a more joyous life? 

  

Next class, Baruch ha Shem, we will continue with Derek Eretz Zuta, Chapter SIX. Thank you for joining me.

 

For those who want a d'var Torah on Parasha Va'eira   from '''A  Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and  Talmud'' please click on

Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: CHUMASH CANDESCENCE: PARASHA VA'EIRA: EXODUS 6:02-9:35 

or  

http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2008/02/chumash-candescense-parasha-vaeira.html

 

 

 

Shabbat Shalom:

Rabbi Arthur Segal_

 www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org_ (http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org/ ) 

Jewish Renewal_ 

www.jewishrenewal.info(http://www.jewishrenewal.info/ ) 

Jewish Spiritual Renewal

Jewish Spirituality

Eco Judaism

Hilton Head Island, SC,  Bluffton, SC, Savannah,  GA

 

If visiting SC's Low Country, contact us for a Shabbat meal, in our home by the sea, our beth yam.

 

Maker  of Shalom (Oseh Shalom) help make us deserving of Shalom beyond all human comprehension!!