This year we will learn about Judaism's Talmudic rabbis' universal lessons. Like in the Torah, many times we are taught what we shouldn't do.
Judaism's highest value, besides life itself, is Shalom. Without peace, inside and about us, we cannot enjoy God's gifts.
As flawed humans, we will continue to find ourselves in situations that detract from our serenity. At those times, it is imperative to draw upon the strength and wisdom that God provides us to not to make matters worse. We remember our sage's teachings, and learn from their errors. Two close Rabbinic friends, lost a friendship, and their lives, over an argument.
Rabbi Yochanan, while swimming in the Jordan River, meets Shimon ben Lakish, a Jewish gladiator and bandit. Yochanan convinces Shimon to repent. Shimon repents, becomes a rabbi, and marries Yochanan's sister. [Talmud Bava Metzia 84 A]
For 70 years these brother-in-laws, become Talmud study partners, arguing the law, but always kindly. On a fateful day their disagreement turned ugly, as Yochanan recalled Shimon's years of banditry, implying that with 70 years of being a good rabbi, Shimon was still a bandit at heart.
Shimon became deathly ill. His wife ran to her brother, begging Yochanan to pray for, and apologize to Shimon. Yochanan refused. Shimon died.
Yochanan became remorseful and eventually insane, continually asking "Where is Shimon?,'' and died also.
What is the Talmud trying to teach us? The story of a fight, literally to the death, is absurd. But when we look at our own lives, haven't we have arguments with people, even family members, over similar stupid things?
Seventy years of study, and being an author of the Yerushalmi Talmud, but an angry moment is for what Rabbi Yochanan is remembered. The Talmud [ Nedarim 22 A,B] offers varied teachings of his: ''The Shechinah is of no importance to angry people''; ''All types of Hell rule over an angry person''. In the Talmud [ Pesachim 66B], Rabbi Shimon taught that if a wise person gets angry, his wisdom will leave him. Little did he know that he was forecasting his own death from the harsh words of his friend and brother-in-law, Rabbi Yochanan.
We can quote all of the Bible we want. We can teach it to our children, or visit folks in hospitals, or write checks to charity, or show up at Sabbath services. But if we truly do not live a life ''with Torah", and are just living a life ''using Torah'', we are only fooling ourselves.
Let us not make the errors of Rabbis Yochanan and Shimon. Let us heal wounds with friends and family. Let us be like the disciples of Aaron, loving peace, [ahavath shalom] , pursuing peace [rodef shalom], and bring people closer to Torah ,God, and to one another. Happy 2017!
Rabbi Arthur Segal is an international lecturer, author, and teacher. Visit him at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org . Email at RabbiASegal@aol.com
JEWISH WEDDINGS OFFICIATED BY RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: TRADITIONAL, INTERFAITH, CO-OFFICIANT, DESTINATION
"One of the Joys of being a Rabbi," says Rabbi Arthur Segal," is working closely with the bride and groom and officiating at their wedding." He can do this with couples living near by or with couples having a destination wedding in the greater beautiful Hilton Head Island area.
Rabbi Arthur Segal helps develop a custom ceremony with the couple so that each word in the ceremony rings true to them. His ceremonies can range from the very traditional to what ever the couples desires. Rabbi opines that this is the couple's special day, and to treat each wedding as unique.
For those who are having an interfaith wedding, Rabbi takes special care to respect both traditions, again with total input from the couple. He will be pleased to co-officiate at weddings, using non-Trinitarian language.
Rabbi Arthur Segal also will do recommitment marriage ceremonies with the same care as he does weddings.
Rabbi will work closely with the wedding planer and/or caterer to make sure the wedding is seamless, and the bride and groom can totally enjoy themselves on their special day.
Rabbi Arthur Segal is available, and actually prefers, to be at the rehearsal, to ensure all is going smoothly, and to get to know the bridal party, and family, before the actual wedding day.
For those that wish to have a Ketubah, rabbi will work closely to make sure everyone's name has correct calligraphy on the document, in English and Hebrew, so the signing ceremony is flawless.
For a beautiful gallery of Ketubahs go to JudaicConnection.com (My couples receive a $15 shipping discount)
Rabbi Arthur Segal tries to limit his weddings to Hilton Head, SC, Bluffton, SC, Palmetto Bluff, SC, Savannah, GA, and Charleston, SC, but has been known to make himself available elsewhere, even out of the USA. He will also conduct weddings and recommitment ceremonies on cruise ships.
In keeping with Jewish ethics, if the couple resides in Rabbi Arthur Segal's town, Rabbi will ask, unless there are some special circumstances, if the couple has first asked the local pulpit rabbi to officiate.
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA
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