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RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:JEWISH RENEWAL:Martyrs of Mumbai
RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:JEWISH RENEWAL:SUFFERING GOD
Jewish Spiritual Renewal:Shabbat 12/6/08:Hebrew College, MA:Torah/Talmud/TaNaK
Shalom Talmudim v' Chaverim:
Shavuah Tov. I hope this Shabbat brought some balm to you as we watched the suffering, the needless senseless suffering, unfold on our TV sets, and computer screens, during this week.
I wish you shalom, in the true Hebrew sense. Not just in the American sense of 'peace', or in the Israeli sense of a greeting, but wishing you shlema, wholeness, integration, where the word shalom is derived. See Ben P's email below.
Because until we have this shalom for ourselves, and until those around us have it, our relationships with others will be I-It and not I-Thou. Unholy relationships can lead to breakups and violence. When we are 'its', in object relations, seen as the 'other', it is not very long before harsh words can be spoken, a smack on the face can result, and in world affairs, an AK 47 is aimed at us.
Because my web site is international and it gets over 3000 hits a day, the outpouring of support, condolences and love, from not only Jews but non Jews of almost every religion, was enormous. This gives me hope. Because in every wonderful email, there is another unhusking of a spark of God, and a bit of Tikun Olam being accomplished.
A pusuk of Torah from the parasha: Gen. 31:51-52:" Laban said to Jacob, "Behold this heap and behold the pillar which I have set between you and me. This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass by this heap to you for harm, and you will not pass by this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.''
A pusuk of TaNaK from the Haftarah: Hos: 12:9: ''He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to defraud.''
Some pusuk of Talmud Bavli Tractate Shabbat 31A: When man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, "Have you believed in God," or "Have you prayed and performed ritual acts," but "Have you dealt honorably, faithfully in all your dealings with your fellowman?"
When we read the Parasha about conniving uncle Laban, we can see that he is a man without God in his life, a selfish person, who treats everyone, from his daughters to his son-in-law Jacob, like objects, 'its'. His word means nothing, his business deals and contracts are fraudulent, and his scales are dishonest.
Judaism deplores this. As we can see from Tractate Shabbat, after 31 pages of discussing what one can do and not do on Shabbat, what do the rabbis say is most important? Belief in God? Nope. Praying? Nope. Doing rituals like keeping kosher? Nope. But being an honest and faithful and honorable friend and fellow human!!!
Those that get turned off because other choose to study, or say there is no God so why study, are missing out on so much. We have a Judaism for children, and we have one for adults. Would one like to have a secular education at an 8th grade level for their entire lives and really believe that George Washington never lied? Of course not. Why would any adult, especially one with free time, not want to learn what is freely given to him/her and is his/her heritage and birthright?
Judaism has wonderful business ethics. Click here: Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:BUSINESS ETHICS:JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:JEWISH RENEWAL based on what uncle Laban taught us not to do.
Mumbai would not have occurred if folks just followed the basic 7 Noachide laws.
This is not God's fault. We have freedom of choice and the power to reason. If we want to choose to plan a terror attack, and reason that this will help our cause, God is not going to stop us. He didn't stop Eve from eating the apple, nor Adam, and didn't stop Cain from killing Abel.
Another pusuk of Talmud: "In the way in which a person wants to go, God will lead him there." – Talmud Bavli Tractate Makkot 10B. The God of Judaism is not the God of Hebraism. He is not going to smite some one about to kill one person or 6 million people. The God of Judaism is on the no-smoting patch.
That answer's Leon's question [see below also] as best as Judaism can. In Judaism one of God's names as we learn in the D'var below is Maqom, the place. If we are here, and want to let God and His goodness into our hearts and treat our fellows properly, we shall. If we want to turn our face on Good Orderly Directions, God is not in this place. His is only a fraction of a millimeter away, however, crying with man in his suffering, and waiting for any human to call out to Him and invite Him in.
Shabbat Shalom:
In honor of the Martyrs of Mumbai.
May their names be for a eternal blessing.
Rabbi Arthur Segal
Hebrew College, Newton Centre, MA, USA
Via Shamash Org on-line class service
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Hilton Head Island, SC;Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA
Hebrew College, Newton Centre, MA, USA
Via Shamash Org on-line class service
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Hilton Head Island, SC;Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA
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