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Rabbi Arthur Segal’s love of people, humanity, and Judaism has him sharing with others “The Wisdom of the Ages” that has been passed on to him. His writings for modern Jews offer Spiritual, Ethical, and eco-Judaic lessons in plain English and with relevance to contemporary lifestyles. He is the author of countless articles, editorials, letters, and blog posts, and he has recently published two books:

The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew

and

A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud

You can learn more about these books at:

www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org
ALL ENTRIES ARE (C) AND PUBLISHED BY RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL, INC, AND NOT BY ANY INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE OF SAID CORPORATION. THIS APPLIES TO 3 OTHER BLOGS (CHUMASH, ECO, SPIRITUALITY) AND WEB SITES PUBLISHED BY SAID CORPORATION.
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Saturday, January 5, 2008

Judaism, Spirituality and Bluffton, SC

 
Judaism and Spirituality
 
Shalom Y'all!  Welcome to Bluffton Today's first regular column on Judaism.
 
 
 
It may be a surprise to some, but Jews are not new to the South, Bluffton or to the Low
 
Country. On July 11, 1733, 40 Jews arrived in Savannah chartering Mickve
 
Israel, America's third oldest synagogue. One hundred years later their
 
descendants and other Jews did business with Blufftonians.  In 1890, Abram
 
and Moses Patz settled in Bluffton opening Calhoun Street's Planter's Mercantile.
 
Affectionately known as the "Jew Store," it remained in Jewish ownership  and was in
 
operation until 1972. But only now does Bluffton have the first incorporated Jewish 
 
Congregation.  Oseh Shalom's over 350 members are celebrating its first anniversary.
 
 
 
 
 
This column will at times explore Jewish history as the experiences of the Jews are linked to
 
the development of their religion. It will explain Judaism, and help Jews understand their own
 
traditions, and help our Christian neighbors understand the religion of Jesus, and the roots of
 
Christianity.
 
 
 
 
Judaism has  roots in what some call the ''Old Testament'' but which Jews call the
 
Tanach, (Jewish Bible).  For the Jews, their covenant made by God  at Mount
 
Sinai, 3500 years ago, has not been obliterated. However reading  the Jewish Bible
 
illustrates that this is not how Jews conduct themselves religiously today. There is no
 
priesthood,  no animal sacrifices, nor thrice yearly pilgrimages to  Jerusalem's
 
Temple.  Certainly no Jew is slaughtering a lamb on  Passover, and no Jew is
 
sitting in darkness on the Sabbath nor being stoned for picking up  wood. What happened?
 
 
 
 
In 586 BCE, the Hebrews tribes of Judah and Benjamin were taken into captivity by the
 
Babylonians. They had no way to worship God. (The other 10 tribes were lost to the
 
Assyrians, 136 years before). They had no Temple, no sacrifices, and priests could not be
 
their intercessors. Within time, a new religion developed in Babylon, with Rabbis as
 
teachers, prayer, and new ways to celebrate Holy days. This was codified into the Talmud,
 
called Judaism. Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem circa 50 years after their
 
captivity to rebuild their Temple as Hebrews.  Many remained in Babylon establishing
 
Talmudic Jewish academies and synagogues. 
 
 
 
Judaism speaks of a God of forgiveness and love. Followers are to emulate these
 
traits. The Rabbis abrogated many Hebraic legalisms. Future columns will elucidate this
 
spiritually centered religion.
 
(Dr. Arthur Segal, retired from practice in 1996 and moved to Hilton Head. He was ritual chairman at HHI's Temple Beth Yam , and became Scholar in Residence at Congregation Mickve Israel. He received Rabbinic ordination, after years of study, in 2007, and is a member of Oseh Shalom, in Bluffton. He can be reached at DrArthurSegal@AOL.COM to submit questions.)




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