RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: TERUMAH: GOD DWELLS IN OUR HEARTS

2012-02-09T15:34:00.003-05:00

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: TERUMAH: GOD DWELLS IN OUR HEARTS

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY : TERUMAH: GOD LIVES IN US

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL : CHUMASH CANDESCENCE: PARASHA TERUMAH: EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

CHUMASH CANDESCENCE
PARASHA TERUMAH
EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

Rabbi Arthur Segal www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org
Via Shamash Org on-line class service
Jewish Renewal www.jewishrenewal.info
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Eco Judaism
Hilton Head Island, SC, Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA

"PORTABILITY"

On a quick reading, this week's Torah portion can appear to some of us to
be from Architectural Digest. It contains blueprints given to Moses by
God on how to construct the Mishkan, the Tabernacle and resting place of
God. The corresponding Haftarah from First Kings 5:26 gives King
Solomon's plans for the building of the First Temple in Jerusalem, which
adapt the plans of our dessert Mishkan.

One of the earliest commandments given to our ancestors in the
construction of the Tabernacle has to do with its portability. In Ex
25:12 we were commanded to put four gold rings on the Holy Ark, two on each
side. In the next verse we are told to make wooden poles covered in gold
that will fit thru these rings. And in verse 15, we are given the mitzvah
of : "The poles will remain in the rings, they shall NOT be removed from
it." And into this portable Ark will go the Tablets signifying the Torah.

Traditionally, we are taught in Talmud tractate Sotah (daf 35A) that the
ark's bearers held the poles on their shoulders. When we read the
measurements of the Ark and its weight with all of the gold, we wonder
how men could carry this Holy object. The rabbis explain that in
"reality," the ark bore the bearers, because when it moved they were
lifted with it. Perhaps homiletically we can better say that Torah, what
is inside the Ark, sustained our people throughout the millennia.

In the nineteenth century, Rabbi Hirsch, who was quoted last parasha in this
series, stated that the eternal presence of the non-removable poles
symbolized the concept that Torah is not tied to any one place. Wherever
Jews go, willingly or other wise, he writes, Torah goes with us, as its
means of transport are always attached to it. How have we transported
Torah over the centuries? We have done so not with buildings built for
vanity but through study and transmission of Judaic values from
generation to generation. In Ex 25:08, note that we are commanded to "make a
sanctuary for Me--so that I may dwell among them." We are to build our
modern synagogues, and even their additions dedicated, to God's service.
Says Rashi, 900 years ago, elegant synagogues are meaningless if built
for ego's sake and not God's sake.

God, we are taught in the Mishna Pirkei Avot, dwells among us in a
variety of ways even after the Temples were destroyed. The rabbis said
that God's Holy presence resides among us when two study Torah or when
three or more eat and discuss Torah. The Talmud teaches that God dwells
with us when we do charitable works, when we make love, and even when we
are ill. It was the idea of portability, the actual commandment of
portability, set forth in this week's parasha, that kept our religion
going and moving forward through the help of our rabbinic teachers after
the Temples' disappearance.

Frankly, it has been posited that the sacking of
the Temple was the best thing in the long run for Judaism as it destroyed
the priestly sacrificial cult. This allowed Judaism to grow and adapt,
becoming a modern religion. We have produced wonderful leaders,
scientists, scholars, healers, and philosophers who otherwise might
have been spending their time sprinkling blood on the altar.

What we Jews have learned is that our religion is not confined to the
Mishkan in the Sinai, to the Temples of Jerusalem, or to our synagogues
on Shabbats. Our religion is a way of life, a way of living our lives.
God is everywhere. God does not just reside in the Tabernacle.

Being good, decent people brings God into our midst. We do not need a high priest to
say God's name secretly once a year for us. By doing good, studying and
transmitting Torah to our children (and ourselves), by taking time off
for renewal each Shabbat, being good parents, being good spouses, being
good friends and doing ahavath chesed (acts of loving kindness), we
build our own spiritual Mishkan over ourselves for God to dwell with us.

The German Jewish philosopher Martin Buber drew a detailed commentary
between the chapter of Genesis, where God creates the world, and this
chapter Terumah and others in Exodus where we create God's resting place
on earth. In Gen 2:1-2 "God finished the work," and in Ex 40:33 "Moses
finished the work." In Gen 1:31 God "beholded" that His work was very
good and in Ex 39:43, our people "beholded" their work. It is we, now,
who have the obligation to bring the Shekinah of God's Holy Presence
every day into our lives and into the lives of those around us. We
imitated God, according to Nehama Leibowitz in "Studies in Shemot
(Exodus)" by building the Tabernacle and the Temples as God built the
universe.

We need to continually imitate God by doing acts of
kindness, justice, mercy, and love as well. Buber says that God dwells wherever we let him in. The Gaon Sa'adia says there is no place without God. Was God there in Dachau? Yes, crying along with us.

Each of us today needs to be our own portable Tabernacle, continually
rebuilding the Mishkan in our own souls and hearts, and as the prophet
Micah said "walk humbly with God."

Shabbat Shalom,

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL

Shalom :

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: DEREK ERETZ: RESPECTING RABBIS:

2012-02-09T15:34:00.001-05:00

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:

JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:

DEREK ERETZ:

RESPECTING RABBIS:

Jewish Spiritual Renewal:

  Derek Eretz Zuta + Rabbah:



Shabbat 2/25/12

(aka Derech Eretz, Derekh Eretz )





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



An oneg, joy-filled, Shabbat this coming weekend to all. Happy Rosh Chodesh Adar (2/24/12). When Adar arrives, our joy increases!!! [Talmud Bavli Tractate Ta'anit 29a]. "Mishenichnas Adar marbin be-sim'cha.''



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 SPIRITUAL RENEWAL :DEREK ERETZ: PURSUE PEACE NOT WAR or http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2012/02/rabbi-arthur-segal-jewish-spiritual_05.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 continue with and complete CHAPTER 7 of Talmud Bavli Tractate Derek Eretz Zuta Verse  7:4.

CHAPTER VII.

7:4: Who respects the sages? He who gives food, drink, dress, shoes, goes out to meet and accompanies when leaving, without distinction between rabbi or disciple. And who shows them disrespect? He who occupies the seat of his master even during his absence, or substitutes him (without permission) in lecturing, or contradicts him.

In the verses 1-3 in this chapter, we see how rabbis, and all of us, are to behave. In this closing verse of chapter & we see how we are to behave to rabbis. In this modern commentary, let us extend rabbis to mean everyone.

I certainly would not advise my readers to start dropping off used shoes and clothing to their rabbis. But certainly if we have used usable clothing, take them to Good Will or another organization that distributes them to the needy.

When we look closely, we are asked to be good companions of rabbis and others. It would be nice if we went out to greet all who are coming to visit us, and escorted them out when they were leaving.

Note how this reads both rabbis or students. In the preceding verses we read how students gave way to their rabbis when entering and leaving. Here, lay people are being shown to show honor to any rabbi or any rabbinic student. While we can understand the text to mean today that we should show honor to everyone, when it comes to rabbis, we honor the position and the title, regardless of who the person is, or to which sect of Judaism he or she belongs.

As we have learned in our Talmudic and Judaic studies, many times a rabbinic student, goes on to surpass his rabbinic teacher in study and teaching. We can't assume because one is a student, he should be treated any less than a rabbi. As we learned in Pirkei Avot 6:3, if one teaches us just one verse or even a letter of Torah, he deserves our respect.

Accordingly, we need to treat our gardeners with the same human respect we treat our doctors. ''Who is wise?'', the sages ask, ''One who can learn from anyone." (Pirkei Avot 4:1). Everyone can be our 'rabbi,' teaching us something.

Now we come to the last sentence of Chapter Seven of Talmud Bavli Tractate Derek Eretz Zuta :He who occupies the seat of his master even during his absence, or substitutes him (without permission) in lecturing, or contradicts him.

Let us limit our discussion to rabbis for the moment. How many times have we seen in synagogues, boards who decide that they can run a service and/or teach better than a rabbi? How many times do we see people who have learned a bit of Torah and some Hebrew become lay leaders of a synagogue, calling themselves spiritual leaders, and worse, Ravs, Rebs, or Rabbis? We see them doing life cycle events. They can act the role very well. But they are acting.

They can get so delusional they fool themselves after a while and believe their own press. They deceive the public into believing that anyone with knowledge of Hebrew prayers can be a rabbi. While the Torah calls us a ''nation of Priests,'' [Ex.19:6], the Talmud never called us a nation of Rabbis.

And who are we to cruelly dissect a rabbi's sermon and chastise him or her about it at the Oneg Shabbat, or worse yet when we bump into our rabbis as they shop for food?

But let us take this further, how often do we hear about or see, when someone at work is absent for period of time, or even a day, someone else swoops in to take over. Some are doing this as good team members. But how many are doing it to advance their own positions and undermine the absent employee?

When the second title to this series on Derek Eretz Zuta and Rabbah is ''The Path and Wisdom for Living at Peace with Others,'' we can see how the above 'disrespecting' can put us at odds with our fellows, with retaliation coming our way.

We discuss these middot, character traits, of getting along with others, 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 these adages of respect and disrespect? 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 Seven. Thank you for joining me.

For those who want a d'var Torah on Parasha Terumah   from '''A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud'' please click on  Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY : TERUMAH: GOD LIVES IN US or http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2011/02/rabbi-arthur-segal-jewish-spirituality_3514.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: HEBRAISM'S GOD LIVED IN THE TEMPLE :FOR JEWS, IN OUR HEARTS

2012-02-09T15:33:00.001-05:00

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: HEBRAISM'S GOD LIVED IN THE TEMPLE :FOR JEWS, IN OUR HEARTS

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY : TERUMAH: GOD LIVES IN US

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL : CHUMASH CANDESCENCE: PARASHA TERUMAH: EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

CHUMASH CANDESCENCE
PARASHA TERUMAH
EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL

Shalom :

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 :TERUMAH: SYNAGOGUES BUILT FOR EGO

2012-02-09T15:29:00.000-05:00

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL :TERUMAH: SYNAGOGUES BUILT FOR EGO

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY : TERUMAH: GOD LIVES IN US

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL : CHUMASH CANDESCENCE: PARASHA TERUMAH: EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

CHUMASH CANDESCENCE
PARASHA TERUMAH
EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL

Shalom :

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 RENEWAL :TERUMAH: SYNAGOGUES BUILT FOR EGO,NOT GOD

2012-02-09T15:26:00.000-05:00

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH RENEWAL :TERUMAH: SYNAGOGUES BUILT FOR EGO,NOT GOD

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY : TERUMAH: GOD LIVES IN US

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL : CHUMASH CANDESCENCE: PARASHA TERUMAH: EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

CHUMASH CANDESCENCE
PARASHA TERUMAH
EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL

Shalom :

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 SPIRITUALITY :TERUMAH:SYNAGOGUES BUILT FOR EGO,NOT GOD

2012-02-09T15:24:00.000-05:00

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY : TERUMAH: SYNAGOGUES BUILT FOR EGO, NOT GOD

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY : TERUMAH: GOD LIVES IN US

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL : CHUMASH CANDESCENCE: PARASHA TERUMAH: EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

CHUMASH CANDESCENCE
PARASHA TERUMAH
EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL

Shalom :

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: ECO JUDAISM : TERUMAH: SYNAGOGUES BUILT FOR EGO,NOT GOD

2012-02-09T15:22:00.001-05:00

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: ECO JUDAISM : TERUMAH: SYNAGOGUES BUILT FOR EGO,NOT GOD

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY : TERUMAH: GOD LIVES IN US

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL : CHUMASH CANDESCENCE: PARASHA TERUMAH: EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

CHUMASH CANDESCENCE
PARASHA TERUMAH
EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL

Shalom :

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: ECO JUDAISM : TERUMAH: GOD DWELLS IN OUR HEARTS

2012-02-09T15:20:00.001-05:00

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: ECO JUDAISM : TERUMAH: GOD DWELLS IN OUR HEARTS

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY : TERUMAH: GOD LIVES IN US

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL : CHUMASH CANDESCENCE: PARASHA TERUMAH: EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

CHUMASH CANDESCENCE
PARASHA TERUMAH
EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL

Shalom :

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 SPIRITUALITY: TERUMAH: GOD DWELLS IN OUR HEARTS

2012-02-09T15:18:00.001-05:00

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY: TERUMAH: GOD DWELLS IN OUR HEARTS

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY : TERUMAH: GOD LIVES IN US

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL : CHUMASH CANDESCENCE: PARASHA TERUMAH: EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

CHUMASH CANDESCENCE
PARASHA TERUMAH
EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL

Shalom :

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 RENEWAL: TERUMAH: GOD DWELLS IN OUR HEARTS

2012-02-09T15:17:00.001-05:00

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH RENEWAL: TERUMAH: GOD DWELLS IN OUR HEARTS

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY : TERUMAH: GOD LIVES IN US

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL : CHUMASH CANDESCENCE: PARASHA TERUMAH: EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

CHUMASH CANDESCENCE
PARASHA TERUMAH
EXODUS 25:01 TO 27:39

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL

Shalom :

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!

2012-02-09T14:20:00.004-05:00

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:

ECO JUDAISM:

DEREK ERETZ:

RESPECTING RABBIS:

DEREKH ERETZ

Jewish Spiritual Renewal:

  Derek Eretz Zuta + Rabbah:



Shabbat 2/25/12

(aka Derech Eretz, DEREKH ERETZ )





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



An oneg, joy-filled, Shabbat this coming weekend to all. Happy Rosh Chodesh Adar (2/24/12). When Adar arrives, our joy increases!!! [Talmud Bavli Tractate Ta'anit 29a]. "Mishenichnas Adar marbin be-sim'cha.''



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 SPIRITUAL RENEWAL :DEREK ERETZ: PURSUE PEACE NOT WAR or http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2012/02/rabbi-arthur-segal-jewish-spiritual_05.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 continue with and complete CHAPTER 7 of Talmud Bavli Tractate Derek Eretz Zuta Verse  7:4.

CHAPTER VII.

7:4: Who respects the sages? He who gives food, drink, dress, shoes, goes out to meet and accompanies when leaving, without distinction between rabbi or disciple. And who shows them disrespect? He who occupies the seat of his master even during his absence, or substitutes him (without permission) in lecturing, or contradicts him.

In the verses 1-3 in this chapter, we see how rabbis, and all of us, are to behave. In this closing verse of chapter & we see how we are to behave to rabbis. In this modern commentary, let us extend rabbis to mean everyone.

I certainly would not advise my readers to start dropping off used shoes and clothing to their rabbis. But certainly if we have used usable clothing, take them to Good Will or another organization that distributes them to the needy.

When we look closely, we are asked to be good companions of rabbis and others. It would be nice if we went out to greet all who are coming to visit us, and escorted them out when they were leaving.

Note how this reads both rabbis or students. In the preceding verses we read how students gave way to their rabbis when entering and leaving. Here, lay people are being shown to show honor to any rabbi or any rabbinic student. While we can understand the text to mean today that we should show honor to everyone, when it comes to rabbis, we honor the position and the title, regardless of who the person is, or to which sect of Judaism he or she belongs.

As we have learned in our Talmudic and Judaic studies, many times a rabbinic student, goes on to surpass his rabbinic teacher in study and teaching. We can't assume because one is a student, he should be treated any less than a rabbi. As we learned in Pirkei Avot 6:3, if one teaches us just one verse or even a letter of Torah, he deserves our respect.

Accordingly, we need to treat our gardeners with the same human respect we treat our doctors. ''Who is wise?'', the sages ask, ''One who can learn from anyone." (Pirkei Avot 4:1). Everyone can be our 'rabbi,' teaching us something.

Now we come to the last sentence of Chapter Seven of Talmud Bavli Tractate Derek Eretz Zuta :He who occupies the seat of his master even during his absence, or substitutes him (without permission) in lecturing, or contradicts him.

Let us limit our discussion to rabbis for the moment. How many times have we seen in synagogues, boards who decide that they can run a service and/or teach better than a rabbi? How many times do we see people who have learned a bit of Torah and some Hebrew become lay leaders of a synagogue, calling themselves spiritual leaders, and worse, Ravs, Rebs, or Rabbis? We see them doing life cycle events. They can act the role very well. But they are acting.

They can get so delusional they fool themselves after a while and believe their own press. They deceive the public into believing that anyone with knowledge of Hebrew prayers can be a rabbi. While the Torah calls us a ''nation of Priests,'' [Ex.19:6], the Talmud never called us a nation of Rabbis.

And who are we to cruelly dissect a rabbi's sermon and chastise him or her about it at the Oneg Shabbat, or worse yet when we bump into our rabbis as they shop for food?

But let us take this further, how often do we hear about or see, when someone at work is absent for period of time, or even a day, someone else swoops in to take over. Some are doing this as good team members. But how many are doing it to advance their own positions and undermine the absent employee?

When the second title to this series on Derek Eretz Zuta and Rabbah is ''The Path and Wisdom for Living at Peace with Others,'' we can see how the above 'disrespecting' can put us at odds with our fellows, with retaliation coming our way.

We discuss these middot, character traits, of getting along with others, 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 these adages of respect and disrespect? 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 Seven. Thank you for joining me.

For those who want a d'var Torah on Parasha Terumah   from '''A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud'' please click on  Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY : TERUMAH: GOD LIVES IN US or http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2011/02/rabbi-arthur-segal-jewish-spirituality_3514.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!!