RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL :CHAZAK! CHAZAK! VENITCHAZEIK! BE STRONG! BE STRONG! AND MAY WE BE STRENGTHENED!
The Conclusion of Numbers - BaMidbar
Dedication
This fourth 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 one book, 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 fourth of five books is dedicated to my family. Without them and God, I am nothing.
I am deeply dedicated to my grandparents, OBM, Israel and Beatrice Levine and Phillip and Rose Segal, who taught me Judaism and its ethics at their knees. I love them and miss them, as well as their many brothers and sisters, my great aunt and uncles, and their children, and children's children, my second and third cousins.
I am deeply indebted to my aunts and uncles, Leon (OBM) and Evelyn Segal Weinstein, George and Matilda (OBM) Segal Rubin, Moishe (OMB) and Betty (OBM) Segal, Louis (OBM ) and Zelda Levine Coren, and Bernie and Doris Levine. Many of my aunts and uncles are in the aging process and I wish them a r'fua sheleimah and they are in my daily mishaberach prayers.
My dear cousins of my generation learned Judaism together. It was with them who we took apart sofa cushions searching for the afikomen, and it was them who were tore apart gift wrapping of our Hanukah presents. It was also with them that we dance the Hora at each other's weddings. I do not see them as much as I would like. I live far away from all of them now. But let them not doubt for a moment that a day does not pass that I do not think of them, nor pray for them, nor wish them nor their spouses, nor their children, the best that life has to offer. My cousins Mark Segal, Stuart Segal, Steven Rubin, Wendy Coren Cacacie, Ellen Coren Bogage, Alan Levine, Ann Barbara Levine Bosco, Lauren Weinstein Lavine and Cheryl Weinstein hold the 'stuff'' of my childhood that helped mold me into the adult I am today. I love them, their spouses and their children.
Words cannot describe the love and the sharing of life's joys I have for my sister Sharon Kay Segal. I am no Moses, but she is my Miriam. She has always been there for me even when I was too selfish to be there for her.
Lastly, but far from least, is my wife Ellen Freedman Segal. As she says to me, ''We have been through a lot together, and most of it is your fault." She was taught Judaism well by her parents Arnold and Alice Robins ne Rabinowich Freedman, both of blessed memory. Ellen is an excellent Jewish wife, and a wonderful bird-mother to our parrots who have passed on (Tzipporah, Chartreuse, Kiwi and Tookee) and now to Avivit Keter, who we call Avi. My dear Ellen is indeed a Woman of Valor: (Proverbs 31). I love her more than any poetry or sonnet can describe. I do not tell her this often enough.
Eshet chayil mi yimtza v'rachok mip'ninim michrah
A woman of valor, who can find? Her value is far beyond pearls.
Batach bah lev ba'lah v'shalal lo yechsar
Her husband's heart relies on her and he shall lack no fortune.
G'malathu tov v'lo ra kol y'mei chayeiha
She does him good and not evil, all the days of her life.
Darshah tzemer ufishtim vata'as b'chefetz kapeiha
She seeks wool and flax, and works with her hands willingly.
Haitah ko'oniyot socher mimerchak tavi lachmah
She is like the merchant ships, she brings her bread from afar.
Vatakom b'od lailah vatiten teref l'vetah v'chok l'na'aroteiha
She arises while it is still night, and gives food to her household and a portion to her maidservants.
Zam'mah sadeh vatikachehu mip'ri chapeiha nat'ah karem
She plans for a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
Chagrah v'oz motneiha vat'ametz zro'oteiha
She girds her loins in strength, and makes her arms strong.
Ta'amah ki tov sachrah lo yichbeh balailah nerah
She knows that her merchandise is good. Her candle does not go out at night.
Yadeha shilchah vakishor v'chapeiha tamchu felech
She sets her hands to the distaff, and holds the spindle in her hands.
Kapah parsah le'ani v'yadeiha shil'chah la'evyon
She extends her hands to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy.
Lo tira l'vetah mishaleg ki chol betah lavush shanim
She fears not for her household because of snow, because her whole household is warmly dressed.
Marvadim astah lah shesh v'argaman l'vushah
She makes covers for herself, her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Noda bash'arim ba'lah b'shivto im ziknei aretz
Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
Sadin astah vatimkor vachagor natnah lak'na'ani
She makes a cloak and sells it, and she delivers aprons to the merchant.
Oz v'hadar l'vushah vatischak l'yom acharon
Strength and honor are her clothing, she smiles at the future.
Piha patchah v'chochma v'torat chesed al l'shonah
She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the lesson of kindness is on her tongue.
Tzofi'ah halichot betah v'lechem atzlut lo tochel
She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Kamu vaneha vay'ash'ruha ba'lah vay'hal'lah
Her children rise and praise her, her husband lauds her.
Rabot banot asu chayil v'at alit al kulanah
Many women have done worthily, but you surpass them all.
Sheker hachen v'hevel hayofi ishah yir'at Hashem hi tit'halal
Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears God shall be praised.
T'nu lah mip'ri yadeiha vihal'luha vash'arim ma'aseha
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
Eshet Chayil is a twenty-two verse poem with which King Solomon concludes the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 31). The poem has an acrostic arrangement in which the verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in regular order. The poem describes the woman of valor as one who are is energetic, righteous, and capable.
According to Aggadic Midrashim (interpretation of the non-legal portions of the Hebrew Bible), the poem was originally composed by Abraham as a eulogy for his wife Sarah.
According to Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah, the poem is a reference to the Shabbat Queen, the spiritual soul-mate of the Jewish nation.
According to commentators, the poem is allegorical. A Woman of Valor has been interpreted as a reference to the Shechinah (Divine presence), the Shabbat, the Torah, wisdom, and the soul. Using Jewish women as the vehicle through which to describe these spiritual manifestations is a tribute to her.
It is my Jewish custom to recite this hymn at the end of the week on Erev Shabbat to Ellen, and thus to think about and be thankful for all her she has done for me and our family throughout the past week.
May God bless and keep all of my family and may God help them fulfill our grandparents' dream of coming to America, ''Di Goldine Medina'', this golden land, with its religious freedom, and opportunities that we never had under the thumb of oppressive regimes in Europe. God bless them and God bless America.
CHAZAK! CHAZAK! VENITCHAZEIK! BE STRONG! BE STRONG! AND MAY WE BE STRENGTHENED!
Shalom v'ahavah,
Arthur
RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL
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