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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, December 20, 2008

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:JEWISH RENEWAL:God gambled on Man

 RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:JEWISH RENEWAL:God gambled on Man
 
Dear Editor:
 
The holiday season is again with us. For many the economy has dampened spirits. Many believe that Wall Street was now just a giant rigged casino. 
 
Yet as a Rabbi, I do urge you to gamble. Indeed take audacious risks. Gamble with money, gamble with relationships, gamble with spirituality.

The most important gamble in human history occurred at Creation. The gambler was God!

When Adam and Eve ate from the fruit, they did not die, as foretold. God took a chance on humanity's future righteousness. When the angels told God not to create humans because we will lie, God gambled saying: ''Truth which refuses to create, to take a chance, to lose once in a while, is not Truth.''[Midrash]

As Hanukah and Christmas approach, we ignore the calamitous market. Be inspired to take chances - financial, social, and spiritual and to rededicate ourselves to God and our fellows.

First, a financial gamble. Give to charities. The Talmud tells us giving is the best preservative for our assets.

Second: It's time to gamble on our families, and friends, on our most fundamental relationships. Mend fences. Reconcile.

Third: When it comes to our spiritual lives, gamble. Learn. Grow. Of what value is spirituality unexamined? Of what value is a religion that substitutes ritual for thought, scenery for substance, rote for re-examination? Hanukah is about Rededication and Christmas is about being Born Anew. 

God gambled. The Maccabees gambled. To gamble is to risk failure. The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

Shalom;

Rabbi Arthur Segal

Jewish Spiritual Renewal

Jewish Renewal

Hilton Head Island, SC

Bluffton, SC

Savannah, GA