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RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL :CHAZAK! CHAZAK! VENITCHAZEIK! BE STRONG! BE STRONG! AND MAY WE BE STRENGTHENED!
The Conclusion of Leviticus- Vayikra
Dedication
This third book of five, of the Five Books of Moses, Chumash Candescence, has been seven years in the making. Its long awaited serialization on the Web has finally arrived, with the other two books, G!D willing, to follow.
Chumash Candescence is the first full compendium to the Torah studying in detail each Parasha, with references to the Talmud, Midrash, and other Rabbinic sources, from post-Talmudic times to the present, from a Jewish Renewal, Spiritual and Modern point of view.
It is part of a greater Text that will be soon published in book form, with profits going to Temples' Social Action and Adult Jewish Education Committees, ''On the Attainment of Jewish Spirituality.''
This third of five books is dedicated to those at Temple Beth Yam, Hilton Head Island, who welcomed my wife and I with true Ahavath Chesed in 1996. While it was a part time Temple then, and we needed more so within two years we left, I have much gratitude to Rabbi T. Levy (OBM), Presidents H. Sherman (OBM), and I. Lindenbaum, and others who had confidence in me to appoint me Ritual Chairman, which had me for a year, be in charge of making sure the bi-monthly services continued while the Temple was without a Rabbi. I would be remiss in not publicly acknowledging the two rabbis who followed Rabbi Levy, who did and are doing their best to keep Judaism alive on Hilton Head Island, e.g. Rabbi A. Koplin and Rabbi M. Covitz. I was very impressed with Rabbi Covitz's heart felt sermon What is the nature of the synagogue as a religious institution .
During my ten year absence from Beth Yam many board presidents and members and chairs have come and gone, but this volume is dedicated to them all. I know of President L. Harrison, and board members S. Davis, Dr. L. Oppenheimer, K. and D. Timen and B.and C. Belisle, and S. Farbstein, as I consider them friends. I am sure there are many others that I am forgetting to name, so please accept my teshuvah on this.
As is stated in the Mishna Pirkei Avot 6:3 :One who learns from his fellow a single chapter, or a single law, or a single verse, or a single word, or even a single letter, he must treat him with respect. For so we find with David, king of Israel, who did not learn anything from Achitofel except for two things alone, yet he called him his "master," his "guide" and his "intimate," as is stated (Psalms 55:14), "And you are a man of my worth, my guide and intimate friend." Surely we can infer a fortiori: if David, king of Israel, who learned nothing from Achitofel except for two things alone, nevertheless referred to him as his master, guide and intimate, it certainly goes without saying that one who learns from his fellow a single chapter, a law, a verse, a saying, or even a single letter, is obligated to revere him.
May G!D bless you and keep you all and your families, and may Beth Yam grow, and blossom, getting stronger each year, teaching letter by letter, word by word, verse by verse, law by law, chapter by chapter, until the wisdom of Torah and Talmud flows from the mouths of all, and resides in the hearts of all. Amen!
CHAZAK! CHAZAK! VENITCHAZEIK! BE STRONG! BE STRONG! AND MAY WE BE STRENGTHENED!
Shalom:
RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL
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