RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH INTERFAITH WEDDINGS: CO-OFFICIATE :PALMETTO BLUFF, SC

 

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH INTERFAITH WEDDINGS: CO-OFFICIATE : PALMETTO BLUFF, SC

 

Shalom:

 

I hope I am not Rabbi-Grinch here. We were all told the story of how the Hashmonian-Maccabees won back the Temple, found only enough oil for one day, and how they had faith, lit the menorah, and the oil lasted for 8 days. This gave them the required week to get ritually pure from being around death in battle, and then could make ritually pure oil.

 

We celebrate Chanukah by placing the Chanukeah in our doorway or window to announce this miracle which was seen by only a few soldiers. Its the only time our Rabbi's decreed we have to be public with a holiday as all other miracles had many witnesses.

 

But we also know the menorah was stolen by the Syrian-Greeks 3 years before. What were the Maccabees lighting??

The Midrash Pesikta Rabbati 2:1 teaches: ''Why are lamps kindled during Hanukkah?  At the time that the sons of the Hashmonean, the High Priest, triumphed over the kingdom of Greece, the time referred to in the verse, ''When  I raised up your sons, oh Zion, against your sons, oh Greece (Zech. 9:13), upon entering the Temple they found there rods of iron  which they grooved out and then kindled wicks in the oil why they poured into the grooves. ''

 

And what were these 'wicks'? The Hebrew soldiers had spears, long iron rods covered with tin. The tips were inserted into the hollow end of the spear. As mentioned in the Dead Sea scrolls so-called "War Scroll", soldiers would remove the tips at night, pour oil in them, and use them as lights. This book describes an end-times battle between the Children of Light versus the Children of Darkness.

 

It was these spears that were used the light the regained Temple, not the missing Menorah.

 

So what about this miracle of Oil? As discussed in ''A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud''  https://www.createspace.com/1000243199 ,
Hanukkah, like most other Hebrew or Jewish holidays had very ancient pagan roots. The

holiday stems from the mid winter 'light' festivals that occur during the equinox when our days get shorter and eventually reverse and get longer. 

 

The oil story, again like many of Judaism's traditions, are derived from cultures into which we assimilated. We however put an ethical-monotheistic  spin on them and made them "Jewish.''

 

We took the oil tale from the Greeks. The irony is that the Hanukah story also is about, but not often mentioned, a  bloody civil war between the Traditional Maccabees Hebrews versus Hellenist Reform Hebrews.  That a Greek story morphs into the Hanukah story, is very ironic. 

 

In Greek mythology, a few drops of oil were placed into the Goddess Athena's lamp on the

Acropolis in Athens. These drops burned for a full year.

 

If we read I Kings 17:16,and II Kings 4:1-6 we might say the story is from the miracles of oil of Elijah and Elisha.[The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah." I Kings 17:16 ....¹ The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves." ² Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a small jar of olive oil." ³ Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. ⁴ Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."  ⁵ She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. ⁶ When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one."  But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing.II Kings 4:1-6 ]

 

The eight days comes from the holiday of Sukkoth. It was a massive celebration, with a Water Drawing Ceremony. The Talmud Tractate Sukkoth chapter 5, says if you have never been to this celebration, you've never experienced joy. It was wild. Folks were soaking wet. Use your imagination. The word diaphanous comes to mind. http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2008/08/rabbi-arthur-segaltalmudsukkothluluv.html  
 

 

We know that the Maccabees had a big 8 day Sukkah-type festival, not just from the Talmud Tractate Ta'anit, but even from archeology .

 

A menorah mosiac was discovered with places for 8 wicks. It is decorated with a lulav and a dissected etrog, all symbols of Sukkoth.

 

But to me, when I thank God each night of eight, for the miracles He did then, and for those He does now, I am a whole-hearted believer.

 

Regardless, all of our Hebrew Holidays (i.e Pesach, Shavuot), and the Jewish Rabbinic holidays like Chanukah, Purim, Lag B'Omer, etc, have spiritual and ethical meanings, taught by our sages. For Chanukah, the main one is we should increase in spirituality and never decrease. This is why Hillel's method of lighting of the Chanukeah is used (one candle the first night, two the second), and Shammai's method is not (8 the first nite, 7 the second nite).{Talmud Bavli Tractate Shabbat 21b}.

 

Shalom Uvracha and Chag Sameach Chanukah!

 

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

 

 

Ivanka Trump Kushner with husband Jared Kusher with lulav and etrog.

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH INTERFAITH WEDDINGS: CO-OFFICIATE: BLUFFTON, SC

 

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH INTERFAITH WEDDINGS: CO-OFFICIATE: BLUFFTON, SC

 

Shalom:

 

I hope I am not Rabbi-Grinch here. We were all told the story of how the Hashmonian-Maccabees won back the Temple, found only enough oil for one day, and how they had faith, lit the menorah, and the oil lasted for 8 days. This gave them the required week to get ritually pure from being around death in battle, and then could make ritually pure oil.

 

We celebrate Chanukah by placing the Chanukeah in our doorway or window to announce this miracle which was seen by only a few soldiers. Its the only time our Rabbi's decreed we have to be public with a holiday as all other miracles had many witnesses.

 

But we also know the menorah was stolen by the Syrian-Greeks 3 years before. What were the Maccabees lighting??

The Midrash Pesikta Rabbati 2:1 teaches: ''Why are lamps kindled during Hanukkah?  At the time that the sons of the Hashmonean, the High Priest, triumphed over the kingdom of Greece, the time referred to in the verse, ''When  I raised up your sons, oh Zion, against your sons, oh Greece (Zech. 9:13), upon entering the Temple they found there rods of iron  which they grooved out and then kindled wicks in the oil why they poured into the grooves. ''

 

And what were these 'wicks'? The Hebrew soldiers had spears, long iron rods covered with tin. The tips were inserted into the hollow end of the spear. As mentioned in the Dead Sea scrolls so-called "War Scroll", soldiers would remove the tips at night, pour oil in them, and use them as lights. This book describes an end-times battle between the Children of Light versus the Children of Darkness.

 

It was these spears that were used the light the regained Temple, not the missing Menorah.

 

So what about this miracle of Oil? As discussed in ''A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud''  https://www.createspace.com/1000243199 ,
Hanukkah, like most other Hebrew or Jewish holidays had very ancient pagan roots. The

holiday stems from the mid winter 'light' festivals that occur during the equinox when our days get shorter and eventually reverse and get longer. 

 

The oil story, again like many of Judaism's traditions, are derived from cultures into which we assimilated. We however put an ethical-monotheistic  spin on them and made them "Jewish.''

 

We took the oil tale from the Greeks. The irony is that the Hanukah story also is about, but not often mentioned, a  bloody civil war between the Traditional Maccabees Hebrews versus Hellenist Reform Hebrews.  That a Greek story morphs into the Hanukah story, is very ironic. 

 

In Greek mythology, a few drops of oil were placed into the Goddess Athena's lamp on the

Acropolis in Athens. These drops burned for a full year.

 

If we read I Kings 17:16,and II Kings 4:1-6 we might say the story is from the miracles of oil of Elijah and Elisha.[The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah." I Kings 17:16 ....¹ The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves." ² Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a small jar of olive oil." ³ Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. ⁴ Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."  ⁵ She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. ⁶ When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one."  But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing.II Kings 4:1-6 ]

 

The eight days comes from the holiday of Sukkoth. It was a massive celebration, with a Water Drawing Ceremony. The Talmud Tractate Sukkoth chapter 5, says if you have never been to this celebration, you've never experienced joy. It was wild. Folks were soaking wet. Use your imagination. The word diaphanous comes to mind. http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2008/08/rabbi-arthur-segaltalmudsukkothluluv.html  
 

 

We know that the Maccabees had a big 8 day Sukkah-type festival, not just from the Talmud Tractate Ta'anit, but even from archeology .

 

A menorah mosiac was discovered with places for 8 wicks. It is decorated with a lulav and a dissected etrog, all symbols of Sukkoth.

 

But to me, when I thank God each night of eight, for the miracles He did then, and for those He does now, I am a whole-hearted believer.

 

Regardless, all of our Hebrew Holidays (i.e Pesach, Shavuot), and the Jewish Rabbinic holidays like Chanukah, Purim, Lag B'Omer, etc, have spiritual and ethical meanings, taught by our sages. For Chanukah, the main one is we should increase in spirituality and never decrease. This is why Hillel's method of lighting of the Chanukeah is used (one candle the first night, two the second), and Shammai's method is not (8 the first nite, 7 the second nite).{Talmud Bavli Tractate Shabbat 21b}.

 

Shalom Uvracha and Chag Sameach Chanukah!

 

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

 

 

Ivanka Trump Kushner with husband Jared Kusher with lulav and etrog.

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH INTERFAITH WEDDINGS: CO-OFFICIATE: HILTON HEAD, SC

 

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH INTERFAITH WEDDINGS: CO-OFFICIATE : HILTON HEAD, SC

 

Shalom:

 

I hope I am not Rabbi-Grinch here. We were all told the story of how the Hashmonian-Maccabees won back the Temple, found only enough oil for one day, and how they had faith, lit the menorah, and the oil lasted for 8 days. This gave them the required week to get ritually pure from being around death in battle, and then could make ritually pure oil.

 

We celebrate Chanukah by placing the Chanukeah in our doorway or window to announce this miracle which was seen by only a few soldiers. Its the only time our Rabbi's decreed we have to be public with a holiday as all other miracles had many witnesses.

 

But we also know the menorah was stolen by the Syrian-Greeks 3 years before. What were the Maccabees lighting??

The Midrash Pesikta Rabbati 2:1 teaches: ''Why are lamps kindled during Hanukkah?  At the time that the sons of the Hashmonean, the High Priest, triumphed over the kingdom of Greece, the time referred to in the verse, ''When  I raised up your sons, oh Zion, against your sons, oh Greece (Zech. 9:13), upon entering the Temple they found there rods of iron  which they grooved out and then kindled wicks in the oil why they poured into the grooves. ''

 

And what were these 'wicks'? The Hebrew soldiers had spears, long iron rods covered with tin. The tips were inserted into the hollow end of the spear. As mentioned in the Dead Sea scrolls so-called "War Scroll", soldiers would remove the tips at night, pour oil in them, and use them as lights. This book describes an end-times battle between the Children of Light versus the Children of Darkness.

 

It was these spears that were used the light the regained Temple, not the missing Menorah.

 

So what about this miracle of Oil? As discussed in ''A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud''  https://www.createspace.com/1000243199 ,
Hanukkah, like most other Hebrew or Jewish holidays had very ancient pagan roots. The

holiday stems from the mid winter 'light' festivals that occur during the equinox when our days get shorter and eventually reverse and get longer. 

 

The oil story, again like many of Judaism's traditions, are derived from cultures into which we assimilated. We however put an ethical-monotheistic  spin on them and made them "Jewish.''

 

We took the oil tale from the Greeks. The irony is that the Hanukah story also is about, but not often mentioned, a  bloody civil war between the Traditional Maccabees Hebrews versus Hellenist Reform Hebrews.  That a Greek story morphs into the Hanukah story, is very ironic. 

 

In Greek mythology, a few drops of oil were placed into the Goddess Athena's lamp on the

Acropolis in Athens. These drops burned for a full year.

 

If we read I Kings 17:16,and II Kings 4:1-6 we might say the story is from the miracles of oil of Elijah and Elisha.[The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah." I Kings 17:16 ....¹ The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves." ² Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a small jar of olive oil." ³ Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. ⁴ Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."  ⁵ She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. ⁶ When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one."  But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing.II Kings 4:1-6 ]

 

The eight days comes from the holiday of Sukkoth. It was a massive celebration, with a Water Drawing Ceremony. The Talmud Tractate Sukkoth chapter 5, says if you have never been to this celebration, you've never experienced joy. It was wild. Folks were soaking wet. Use your imagination. The word diaphanous comes to mind. http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2008/08/rabbi-arthur-segaltalmudsukkothluluv.html  
 

 

We know that the Maccabees had a big 8 day Sukkah-type festival, not just from the Talmud Tractate Ta'anit, but even from archeology .

 

A menorah mosiac was discovered with places for 8 wicks. It is decorated with a lulav and a dissected etrog, all symbols of Sukkoth.

 

But to me, when I thank God each night of eight, for the miracles He did then, and for those He does now, I am a whole-hearted believer.

 

Regardless, all of our Hebrew Holidays (i.e Pesach, Shavuot), and the Jewish Rabbinic holidays like Chanukah, Purim, Lag B'Omer, etc, have spiritual and ethical meanings, taught by our sages. For Chanukah, the main one is we should increase in spirituality and never decrease. This is why Hillel's method of lighting of the Chanukeah is used (one candle the first night, two the second), and Shammai's method is not (8 the first nite, 7 the second nite).{Talmud Bavli Tractate Shabbat 21b}.

 

Shalom Uvracha and Chag Sameach Chanukah!

 

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

 

 

Ivanka Trump Kushner with husband Jared Kusher with lulav and etrog.

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: DELOS SYNAGOGUE: OLDEST SYNAGOGUE IN THE WORLD

  

 

 

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:

DELOS SYNAGOGUE:

OLDEST SYNAGOGUE IN THE WORLD

The synagogue of Delos, Greece, a small island next to Mykonos, is the oldest synagogue known today, its origin dating between 150 and 128 BCE. The building's most recent use is widely agreed to have been an assembly hall for Jews .

From The Island Packet, Rabbi Arthur Segal, at the synagogue on  Delos Island, Greece. Thursday December 1, 2011.

 However, the first use for the building is more controversial. While some people think the building was erected as a private house or a pagan meeting place, most believe that it was a synagogue even in its earliest form.

Located on the eastern side of the city of Delos, the synagogue was far from the central areas of the city. We know. We walked at and then ran it up hill trying not to miss the ferry back to Mykonos.

Instead, the synagogue was built in a section of Delos called the Quartier du stade. In this part of the city, in contrast to the religious and commercial focus at Delos' center, residences dominated the scene (there was also a small, easily accessibly port).

The synagogue itself consisted of two large rooms containing a throne and multiple marble benches as well as many smaller rooms which allowed for access to a reservoir. This "throne" seen in the photos, was called the "Moses Chair'' and seems to be used by the rabbi of the synagogue.

The synagogue was discovered in 1912 by a team led by archaeologist André Plassart .  The synagogue is understood to have remained in use until the end of the second century AD. The dominating feature of the building is the large hall, which was presumably used in a flexible way, with moveable furniture, since there is no evidence for benches built along the walls.^] The hall is oriented towards the east, with a series of secondary rooms at the southern end.

 The original identification of the building as a synagogue by Plassart was based in large part on dedicatory inscriptions referring to "Theos Hypsistos," or "God Most High," often considered an appellation for the Jewish God in antiquity, though not exclusively. 

Throne of Moses

Here is a close up of the Moses Throne from

Synagogues360: Delos Synagogue

 

The Synagogue was on prime ocean-view real estate. It truly was a Beth Yam, House by the Sea. Photo from same above web site.

View to Southeast

But here is the rub. Many Jewish historians state that the advent of a synagogue did not occur until after 70 CE, when Ezra's Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. If we define a synagogue as a meeting place for Jews, whether it be for social, political, prayer or study reasons, and whether it be a free standing building or a room in someone's home, we know therefore that synagogues began to exist, after the Babylonian Diaspora of 586 BCE. They existed while the Ezra's Temple still was in existence, and eventually developed a service, that would seem familiar today. They had set prayer including the Amidah, the Shema, and reading from the Torah as well as the books of the Prophets, along with a d'var Torah, aka a sermon. The reading from the Prophets was a direct afront to Hebrews, still mired in the cult of the Priests, with animal sacrifices, who believed in the Five Books of Moses only, i.e. The Torah, and none of the books of the Prophets, and certainly none of the oral law or its commentaries, which we call Talmud today.

 

Hebraism and Judaism lived side by side for 100s of years before the Roman's destroyed Ezra's Temple in Jerusalem, and Jews lived in foreign lands, under Greek and /or Roman rule, long after they were allowed to return from Babylon to what we call Israel today.

 

Certainly any critical or even superficial reading of the Christian Bible has Rabbi Y'shua ,aka Jesus, giving sermons in Synagogues and reading from the Law, aka Torah, as well as from the Prophets. And this was circa 35 or 45 years before the Temple was destroyed.

 

 

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

 

credits to Wiki:

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: DELOS SYNAGOGUE: OLDEST SYNAGOGUE IN THE WORLD

 

 

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: DELOS SYNAGOGUE: OLDEST SYNAGOGUE IN THE WORLD

The synagogue of Delos, Greece, a small island next to Mykonos, is the oldest synagogue known today, its origin dating between 150 and 128 BCE. The building's most recent use is widely agreed to have been an assembly hall for Jews .

From The Island Packet, Rabbi Arthur Segal, at the synagogue on  Delos Island, Greece. Thursday December 1, 2011.

 However, the first use for the building is more controversial. While some people think the building was erected as a private house or a pagan meeting place, most believe that it was a synagogue even in its earliest form.

Located on the eastern side of the city of Delos, the synagogue was far from the central areas of the city. We know. We walked at and then ran it up hill trying not to miss the ferry back to Mykonos.

Instead, the synagogue was built in a section of Delos called the Quartier du stade. In this part of the city, in contrast to the religious and commercial focus at Delos' center, residences dominated the scene (there was also a small, easily accessibly port).

The synagogue itself consisted of two large rooms containing a throne and multiple marble benches as well as many smaller rooms which allowed for access to a reservoir. This "throne" seen in the photos, was called the "Moses Chair'' and seems to be used by the rabbi of the synagogue.

The synagogue was discovered in 1912 by a team led by archaeologist André Plassart .  The synagogue is understood to have remained in use until the end of the second century AD. The dominating feature of the building is the large hall, which was presumably used in a flexible way, with moveable furniture, since there is no evidence for benches built along the walls.^] The hall is oriented towards the east, with a series of secondary rooms at the southern end.

 The original identification of the building as a synagogue by Plassart was based in large part on dedicatory inscriptions referring to "Theos Hypsistos," or "God Most High," often considered an appellation for the Jewish God in antiquity, though not exclusively. 

Throne of Moses

Here is a close up of the Moses Throne from

Synagogues360: Delos Synagogue

 

The Synagogue was on prime ocean-view real estate. It truly was a Beth Yam, House by the Sea. Photo from same above web site.

View to Southeast

But here is the rub. Many Jewish historians state that the advent of a synagogue did not occur until after 70 CE, when Ezra's Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. If we define a synagogue as a meeting place for Jews, whether it be for social, political, prayer or study reasons, and whether it be a free standing building or a room in someone's home, we know therefore that synagogues began to exist, after the Babylonian Diaspora of 586 BCE. They existed while the Ezra's Temple still was in existence, and eventually developed a service, that would seem familiar today. They had set prayer including the Amidah, the Shema, and reading from the Torah as well as the books of the Prophets, along with a d'var Torah, aka a sermon. The reading from the Prophets was a direct afront to Hebrews, still mired in the cult of the Priests, with animal sacrifices, who believed in the Five Books of Moses only, i.e. The Torah, and none of the books of the Prophets, and certainly none of the oral law or its commentaries, which we call Talmud today.

 

Hebraism and Judaism lived side by side for 100s of years before the Roman's destroyed Ezra's Temple in Jerusalem, and Jews lived in foreign lands, under Greek and /or Roman rule, long after they were allowed to return from Babylon to what we call Israel today.

 

Certainly any critical or even superficial reading of the Christian Bible has Rabbi Y'shua ,aka Jesus, giving sermons in Synagogues and reading from the Law, aka Torah, as well as from the Prophets. And this was circa 35 or 45 years before the Temple was destroyed.

 

 

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

 

credits to Wiki:

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL : IF OTHER'S WRONG YOU, CONSIDER IT NOTHING: JEWISH RENEWAL.

 RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL : IF OTHER'S WRONG YOU, CONSIDER IT NOTHING: JEWISH RENEWAL

 

 From December 1, 2011 Bluffton Sun.

___

 

Shalom and peace. I again invite you to learn about how the Talmud of Judaism teaches us to live.

 '' If you have done much good to someone, consider it as you have done very little. If someone has done you a bit of good, consider it as if he has done you much good. If you have done any wrong to someone, even a little bit, consider it as if it is much wrong.  If others have done much wrong to you, consider it as nothing.'' (Derek Eretz 3:9)

My rabbinic teacher asked: "Would you rather be happy or would you rather be right?''  He was not talking about major situations when ''we cannot stand idly by while our fellows' blood is being shed.'' He was discussing the daily interactions that we have with our fellows, including coworkers, family, et.al.

Our sages nor God wish us treated as door mats.  But neither are we to be full of angst and peccadilloes.

'' If you have done much good to someone, consider it as you have done very little.''

Why are we here on earth? From a Jewish spiritual point of view, we are here to be of maximum service to God and our fellows. When doing good for someone, or some institution, even if it is 'much' good, we have to consider it as if we have done little. Further, everything we have is not just a gift from God, but a loan.

''If someone has done you a bit of good, consider it as if he has done you much good.'' Think of all of the little things that are done for us each day with the same gratitude we would give for the occasional big thing done for us.

We realize all the things we take for granted that other humans do for us, and that God does for us.  When we do not acknowledge such wonders we become ingrates. Instead of seeing a flat tire as an inconvenience, one thing wrong out of 999 things that went right, we awfulize it, and loose our shalom.

 ''If you have done any wrong to someone, even a little bit, consider it as if it is much wrong.'' It is very easy to hurt another's feelings. Even doing acts with good intentions can bring harm.  Be kind and make amends.

 ''If others have done to you much wrong, consider it in your eyes as nothing.''   This isn't easy. It goes against our so-called human nature.  Our job spiritually is to grow from Homo Sapien, with this 'human nature,' to Homo Spiritus.  We check our egos.

We let childlike mean behaviors flow off our backs. Because we are trying to live a spiritual life doesn't mean everyone will treat us respectfully.  Because one is a vegetarian doesn't mean the bull won't charge.  We shed our Velcro skins and grow skins of Teflon.  Our lives go smoother. We live in freedom, with happiness and joyousness each day.

 

Rabbi Arthur Segal is an international lecturer, author, and teacher. Visit him at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org .   Follow him on FaceBook at 'Arthur L Segal', on Twitter at RabbiASegal, or his blog at  http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com  .  Email at RabbiSegal@JewishSpiritualRenewal.net

 

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 : IF OTHER'S WRONG YOU, CONSIDER IT NOTHING: JEWISH RENEWAL

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL : IF OTHER'S WRONG YOU, CONSIDER IT NOTHING: JEWISH RENEWAL

 

 From December 1, 2011 Bluffton Sun.

___

 

Shalom and peace. I again invite you to learn about how the Talmud of Judaism teaches us to live.

 '' If you have done much good to someone, consider it as you have done very little. If someone has done you a bit of good, consider it as if he has done you much good. If you have done any wrong to someone, even a little bit, consider it as if it is much wrong.  If others have done much wrong to you, consider it as nothing.'' (Derek Eretz 3:9)

My rabbinic teacher asked: "Would you rather be happy or would you rather be right?''  He was not talking about major situations when ''we cannot stand idly by while our fellows' blood is being shed.'' He was discussing the daily interactions that we have with our fellows, including coworkers, family, et.al.

Our sages nor God wish us treated as door mats.  But neither are we to be full of angst and peccadilloes.

'' If you have done much good to someone, consider it as you have done very little.''

Why are we here on earth? From a Jewish spiritual point of view, we are here to be of maximum service to God and our fellows. When doing good for someone, or some institution, even if it is 'much' good, we have to consider it as if we have done little. Further, everything we have is not just a gift from God, but a loan.

''If someone has done you a bit of good, consider it as if he has done you much good.'' Think of all of the little things that are done for us each day with the same gratitude we would give for the occasional big thing done for us.

We realize all the things we take for granted that other humans do for us, and that God does for us.  When we do not acknowledge such wonders we become ingrates. Instead of seeing a flat tire as an inconvenience, one thing wrong out of 999 things that went right, we awfulize it, and loose our shalom.

 ''If you have done any wrong to someone, even a little bit, consider it as if it is much wrong.'' It is very easy to hurt another's feelings. Even doing acts with good intentions can bring harm.  Be kind and make amends.

 ''If others have done to you much wrong, consider it in your eyes as nothing.''   This isn't easy. It goes against our so-called human nature.  Our job spiritually is to grow from Homo Sapien, with this 'human nature,' to Homo Spiritus.  We check our egos.

We let childlike mean behaviors flow off our backs. Because we are trying to live a spiritual life doesn't mean everyone will treat us respectfully.  Because one is a vegetarian doesn't mean the bull won't charge.  We shed our Velcro skins and grow skins of Teflon.  Our lives go smoother. We live in freedom, with happiness and joyousness each day.

 

Rabbi Arthur Segal is an international lecturer, author, and teacher. Visit him at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org .   Follow him on FaceBook at 'Arthur L Segal', on Twitter at RabbiASegal, or his blog at  http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com  .  Email at RabbiSegal@JewishSpiritualRenewal.net

 

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: GOOD DEEDS DONE WITHOUT FANFARE

  

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: GOOD DEEDS DONE WITHOUT FAN FARE

   

 

Jewish  Spiritual  Renewal:

  

  Derek  Eretz Zuta + Rabbah:

  

 Shabbat  12/10/11 

 

 (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. And a early Happy Chanukah, Happy Holidays and a blessed Happy New Year. These wishes are being sent early as this will be our last class till Mid January 2012, as I will be officiating as Rabbi for Shabbatot  and Chanukah out of state and the USA. 

  

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: SLOW TO ANGER, EASY TO APPEASE  or http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2011/11/rabbi-arthur-segal-jewish-spiritual_8169.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 complete  CHAPTER 5 of Talmud  Bavli Tractate Derek Eretz Zuta Verse  5:5.

 

''The beauty of the Law is wisdom; the beauty of wisdom is modesty; the beauty of modesty is the fear of Heaven; the beauty of the fear of Heaven is noble performance; the beauty of noble performance is secrecy (i.e., not publicly, for the purpose of being praised). ''

 

Today's verse is defining ''beauty'' as the ''beautiful result of.'' So the beautiful result that we wish to gain from studying Torah and Talmud is wisdom. Judaism makes distinction among wisdom, understanding, and knowledge...chochmah, binah and da'at.

 

Chochmah , conceptional wisdom, is acquiring  a simple formulation of certain facts. One can be taught that it is a mitzvah to love one's fellow. If asked if it is a mitzvah  to love one's fellow, he can be taught to say 'yes.'

 

When the individual can explain important corollaries to loving one's fellow, such as not gossiping, one has gained binah , understanding. So far these are both conceptual levels.

 

When we have the wisdom and the knowledge, still using the example of loving one's fellow, and we can go out an apply it in our daily lives, we have gained da'at, understanding.

 

Why Judaism distinguishes between these three levels is found in Kabbalistic understanding. When we understand spiritually that loving one's fellow is part of actual living in a happy, joyous and free way, so that it becomes as natural as breathing, we have combined wisdom and knowledge, into true understanding, da'at.

 

So studying Torah and Talmud as the basic level should yield us the wisdom of the Torah and Talmud. But at the wisdom level we can teach the ethical behavior of loving one's fellow, but until we truly we have da'at, we  can sadly allow ourselves to selfishly walk past someone needing aid.

 

Now with wisdom of Torah we can hopefully work into the da'at stage. And this level should lead us to begin to become modest and humble, as we truly begin the understanding in our very soul, trumping intellect, about how little we truly understand.

 

As we become modest and humble, we begin to have da'at, understanding, in  our souls, in our spiritual awakening, of Adon Olam. We develop true awe and love for God.

 

Because we love God, and His goodness , kindness, grace and mercy, we are able, without second thought, to live our lives doing mitzvoth, not just ritual, but especially those that are life changing and life affirming for others.

 

And our doing these mitzvoth, are done as privately as can be, without striving to get our names in synagogue bulletins. In fact, when we pray each day for our names to be like dust, we truly strive for this, and not the kavod, the honors, that others seek, as we know, we have the da'at, that all honor belongs to God. We are here on earth to be of maximum service to our fellows. We do not need thanks for performing good deeds, any more than we need applause for breathing. We understand that this is what life is. And it is 'beautiful.'

 

 

We discuss these middot, character traits, of wisdom, understanding,  knowledge, humility, modesty, love and awe of God, and mitzvoth done with altruism, 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  ''undertanding'' 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, in mid January 2012, we will continue with Derek Eretz Zuta, Chapter SIX. Thank you for joining me.

 

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

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

Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL; CHUMASH CANDESCENCE: PARASHA VAYISHLACH: GENESIS 32:04-36:43  or http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2008/02/chumash-candescence-parasha-vayishlach.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!