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RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:JEWISH RENEWAL: MOSES: SHEPHERD: BUSH
Comments on class for Shabbat 1/17/09 Hebrew College,MA,Torah,TaNaK,Talmud
Shalom Chaverim v' Chaverot:
We have been blessed again with many posts, some on the parasha and Talmud itself, (Baruch ha Shem!), some more on Gaza,(may there be a lasting Shalom soon), and some on the quiz that I included in the class to see how one's children or we ourselves are doing with our Jewish IQ. I am attaching last Sunday's class below for easy reference.
As always, as long as there is no makloket, I do not censure. Some do ask me to redact their last names and email addresses and I will of course do this. Some do not.
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Sharon from Adath Israel Cong. in NJ writes:
Ironically, about 12 years ago Rabbi Tovia Singer of "Jews for Judaism" had a very similar "test" for adult education for parents of the religious school students. Only I and one other woman knew the name of Moses' mother (Jochebed) while all knew the name of Jesus' mother.
Not surprising as the media, local churches, and community values stress the knowledge of the former and undervalue the name of the latter.
As a Jewish educator of more than 20 years, I have come to the understanding that students learn more than just the material necessary for public consumption at bnai mitzvah when the culture of learning, loving, and caring are all incorporated into the forum of education. While I work predominantly with students with special learning needs, my successes are contingent on the culture of acceptance that is, thank G-d, present in the school where I teach.
Sharon
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Ben from Chabad in Florida writes:
We are without question our own worst enemies as well as critics. We know
what we need to do and yet we somehow find ways not to. We know we hurt
ourselves when we do not take advantage of our many gifts from G-d from teshuvah
to Shabbat observance and every other gift we are given yet we find ways to
justify turning these gifts away at times.....creating our own Mitzraim. It
ain't easy being a Yid. lol.
Torah and Talmud study being the antidote is yet another gift from our
Maker. There is no obligation to study to learn to improve yet we gain so much by
accepting this gift that we only help ourselves. Turning these gifts away
only hurts us as well. Given the choice, all Jews should choose what would
seem to be a selfish act in helping ourselves, yet these things being done in
tandem by other Yidden worldwide bring forth light and the coming of Moshiach
thereby making this not a selfish act but a selfless act.
Yetzer ha ra being always present can lead us to many wrongs: some major some
not so much in man's eyes; but we must always remember that which we see in
others that we hate, is generally a reflection, and we need to change ourselves
and respond to others with kindness, even when it hurts to do so. We will be
looked upon, as we look upon others, and regardless of the struggle it takes to
do it we must find a way to understand this and find humility even in the
most trying of times.
In reference to the quote from Talmud Bavli Tractate Pirkei Avot 4:2 "One
mitzvah leads to another and one transgression induces another transgression:"
it made me think of the name Ephraim that Joseph gave to his son..........when
Yaakov was giving him his blessing he told Joseph basically, and I am
paraphrasing, that his blessings will be many and will lead to other blessings.
what we need to do and yet we somehow find ways not to. We know we hurt
ourselves when we do not take advantage of our many gifts from G-d from teshuvah
to Shabbat observance and every other gift we are given yet we find ways to
justify turning these gifts away at times.....creating our own Mitzraim. It
ain't easy being a Yid. lol.
Torah and Talmud study being the antidote is yet another gift from our
Maker. There is no obligation to study to learn to improve yet we gain so much by
accepting this gift that we only help ourselves. Turning these gifts away
only hurts us as well. Given the choice, all Jews should choose what would
seem to be a selfish act in helping ourselves, yet these things being done in
tandem by other Yidden worldwide bring forth light and the coming of Moshiach
thereby making this not a selfish act but a selfless act.
Yetzer ha ra being always present can lead us to many wrongs: some major some
not so much in man's eyes; but we must always remember that which we see in
others that we hate, is generally a reflection, and we need to change ourselves
and respond to others with kindness, even when it hurts to do so. We will be
looked upon, as we look upon others, and regardless of the struggle it takes to
do it we must find a way to understand this and find humility even in the
most trying of times.
In reference to the quote from Talmud Bavli Tractate Pirkei Avot 4:2 "One
mitzvah leads to another and one transgression induces another transgression:"
it made me think of the name Ephraim that Joseph gave to his son..........when
Yaakov was giving him his blessing he told Joseph basically, and I am
paraphrasing, that his blessings will be many and will lead to other blessings.
One mitzvah can lead to many other mitzvahs from within you as well as in others
who observe or benefit from the mitzvah.
who observe or benefit from the mitzvah.
For example one who teaches Torah
and Talmud can watch as generations down the line from this child continue the
tradition and pass on to their children and this mitzvah is multiplied many
times over and its yield never ends.
and Talmud can watch as generations down the line from this child continue the
tradition and pass on to their children and this mitzvah is multiplied many
times over and its yield never ends.
Today we must also realize that each and
every positive action multiplies many times over particularly when it is done
selflessly, a mitzvah for the sake of a mitzvah...... this is why we need to
look for ways to avoid credit for these acts of chesed....Mitzvot for mitzvot
sake.
I have given the family the quiz and given them this week to find the
answers... no point in asking them to take the quiz from memory as I am sure they will
not know the answers to many of these questions. In today's world, with the
internet, study and learning is at our fingertips, literally. This quiz will
give them a chance to have fun, a scavenger hunt if you will, and can be a
great dinner topic for Shabbat.
every positive action multiplies many times over particularly when it is done
selflessly, a mitzvah for the sake of a mitzvah...... this is why we need to
look for ways to avoid credit for these acts of chesed....Mitzvot for mitzvot
sake.
I have given the family the quiz and given them this week to find the
answers... no point in asking them to take the quiz from memory as I am sure they will
not know the answers to many of these questions. In today's world, with the
internet, study and learning is at our fingertips, literally. This quiz will
give them a chance to have fun, a scavenger hunt if you will, and can be a
great dinner topic for Shabbat.
Thank you for this gift and hopefully others
will try this as well.
Ben P
will try this as well.
Ben P
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Cantor Joy from California wrote:
Cantor Joy from California wrote:
Another classic story. Reb Zusha was on his death bed, and tears were streaming down his face. "Why are you crying?" asked his disciples. "If God asks me why I wasn't like Moses or Maimonides," answered Reb Zusha, "I'll say, I wasn't blessed with that kind of leadership ability and wisdom."
But I'm afraid of another question," continued Reb Zusha, "what if God asks, Reb Zusha, why weren't you like Reb Zusha? Why didn't you find your inner being and realize your inner potential? Why didn't you find yourself? That is why I am crying."
I love this story. I found this quote by R. Avi Weiss of Riverdale. I met him years ago...
Shlomo, z'l used to tell the story.
Rabbi Judith HaLevy mandated me years ago to go out and be "Joy." So I used to do Rosh Chodesh workshops on "DON'T POSTPONE JOY" and still do. Now I just rename them, Baby Boomer Sage-ing.
One love, shalom and abundant blesSings of harmony, wholeness, health and joy to you,
Joy
Joy
"Serve G*d With Joy"
"The Divine One is The Source of Joy. To be joyous is to be connected with the Source – one who is connected to the Source IS joyous!" Rav Shulim
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Dovid ben Menachem Mendel wrote:
I have been on this list for a while but this is my first input. Sorry for a late reaction but had computer problems.
RABBI SEGAL: BARUCH HA BA. YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME
I am a bit of a Kahanist.
1. How do we differentiate between not having the knee jerk reaction of responding to violence with violence or not taking revenge and turning the other cheek? There were times when Hashem commanded us to take vengeance on our enemies.
I am a bit of a Kahanist.
1. How do we differentiate between not having the knee jerk reaction of responding to violence with violence or not taking revenge and turning the other cheek? There were times when Hashem commanded us to take vengeance on our enemies.
RABBI SEGAL: FROM A JEWISH TALMUDIC SPIRITUAL POINT OF VIEW, THE ANSWER IS PRAYER AND MEDITATION, TO AVOID KNEE-JERK REACTIONS. WE PRAY EACH DAY, THRICE A DAY, IN THE AMIDAH, FOR HA SHEM TO KEEP US FROM ANGER. KNEE JERK REACTIONS COME FROM ANGER.
NOW THIS OF COURSE DOES NOT MEAN WHEN SOMEONE IS A RODEF OUT TO KILL US, WE ARE TO STOP, PRAY, AND DECIDE ON A COURSE OF ACTION. THE ANSWER IS PRE-SET FOR US BY THE SAGES. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO KILL HIM, BEFORE HE KILLS US.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE SLAP HAS BEEN DONE, SO TO SPEAK. OR THE MISSILE BEEN FIRED, AND WE HAVE COOLER HEADS, WE HAVE OTHER ALTERNATIVES, AS JEWS, THAN OUR HEBREW ANCESTORS HAD.
THIS LEADS INTO THE SECOND PART OF YOUR QUESTION. HEBREWS INDEED WERE ORDERED TO WIPE OUT MANY TRIBES....THOSE IN THE LAND THAT JOSHUA CONQUERED, AND AMALEK FOREVER. BUT THAT 'GOD' WAS THE HEBRAIC GOD.
HE MATURED, IF YOU WILL, IN EXILE IN BABYLON. THE JUDAIC GOD IS QUITE DIFFERENT. THE JUDAIC GOD IS NOT A CULT GOD OF THE HEBREWS, BUT A UNIVERSAL GOD. FURTHER, TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE, THE COMMANDMENT TO THE HEBREWS TO BLOT OUT THE NAME OF AMALEK, WHICH MEANT BY SWORD, [AND COST KING SAUL HIS CROWN BECAUSE HE ALLOWED THE AGAGITE KING OF AMAKEK MERCY], BECOMES A COMMANDMENT TO BLOT OUT THE NAME OF THE AMALEK-AGAGITE HAMAN WITH NOISE MAKERS ON THE HOLIDAY OF PURIM, IN JUDAISM.
SO JEWS AREN'T TAUGHT TO TAKE VENGENCE. IN THE TALMUD OVER AND OVER, FORGIVENESS IS TAUGHT AND VENGENCE IS SOMETHING FOR HA SHEM TO BE DOING. SHALOM BECOMES OUR HIGHEST OF VIRTUES...ALONG WITH THE PRESERVATION OF HUMAN LIFE.
HENCE THE MIDRASH IS CHASTISING MIRIAM FOR REJOICING WHILE THE EGYPTIANS DROWNED IN THE SEA OF REEDS AS THEY ARE GOD'S CREATURES ALSO.
2. Jews could be lulled into thinking that, like Hamas was originally seen by Israel as different from the PLO, that now Fatach is different than Hamas though they are fighting. Mahmaud Abbaz is a Holocaust denier and financed the Munich massacre so there is no peace partner.
IF JEWS DO NOT STUDY, AND STUDY THE EMET, JEWS CAN BE LULLED INTO THINKING ANYTHING AT ANY TIME. THE TALMUD MAKES IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE CONCEPT OF WHAT WE CLAIM AS A ''YIDDISHA KUP'' VERSUS A ''GOYESHA KUP'' IS NONSENSE AS ALL NATIONS HAVE THEIR WISE MEN, AND ALL NATIONS THEIR FOOLS.
IT IS INTERESTING, THAT ARAFAT AND SADAT IN RETROSPECT, [AND HISTORY CAN PAINT ANYONE THE WAY HISTORIANS WISH TO PAINT ONE], NOW LOOK ALMOST LIKE SOMEONE AN ISRAELI WOULD HAVE OVER FOR EREV SHABBAT DINNER.
I PRAY THAT HISTORY WILL SHOW THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, GOD WILL INSTILL SHALOM INTO THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THOSE WHO WISH TO DESTROY US, SO ISRAEL CAN HAVE A PARTNER FOR PEACE. IF NOT, NEGOTATIONS ARE ONLY STALLING TACTICS TO REBUILD, R-ARM, AND RE-ATTACK AND CONTINUE THE CYCLE.
THANKS FOR POSTING, DOVID!! SHALOM!
Dovid ben Menachem Mendel
Dovid ben Menachem Mendel
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Susan S of P'nai Or, Phila and Aleph Org writes:
A synagogue locked on Shabbat? Who could imagine? I have never heard of anything like this. Not that I haven't heard a lot of stories about synagogues being spiritually disappointing, but never, never anything so far overboard . What a shanda! I think you have a book there. Susan S, aleph-admin
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Marco wrote:
From the parasha:'' The more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they grew Exodus 1:12.''
Our sages teach that nothing in the Torah is there not on purpose and nothing is left out on purpose. Every word, every letter, has meaning.
In reference to this quote, in context, the first 'they'' means the Egyptians and the second two ''they's'' means the Hebrews.
But the sages teach that the Torah doesn't specify here, to make the Jews know that when they are done with their forecasted exiles and come back into the Promised Land, not to treat the inhabitants who live there, or who live around them, like the Egyptians treated them. Because if Jews, once they re- controlled Israel, treated the people there or around them with affliction, these people would multiply and grow.
Regardless of who fired the first shot, or what happened to us in Europe, we did not follow our Talmud. We owe a heck of a lot of teshuvah. Proverbs tells us there is no man on earth who is without transgression, and hence we can infer that applies to nations who are made up of humans.
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Werner writes:
If I may, a bit about Moses who we are introduced to in this Shabbat's parasha and hence a bit about what it means to be a Jewish leader, and understanding our people, but also understanding those who do not understand us, and hence hate us.
(Also, I am a Reform Jew, and while when we were kids we used to joke: "My Temple is so Reform it is closed on Sabbath,'' I , who have traveled in many places in the USA and the globe, have never found a Temple closed on Saturdays. So I do not know if you are kidding or not. Please tell me that you are kidding.)
RABBI SEGAL: NOT KIDDING. BUT ENOUGH OF AVODAH ZARAH. IT IS AMERICA, AND FOLKS ARE FREE TO WORSHIP OR NOT WORSHIP AS THEY PLEASE. ANYTHING MORE IS BECOMING LOSHAN HA RA WHICH IS NOT MY INTENT.
Moses role is primarily to nurture. Yes, he must govern, redeem, defend, and teach. Moses is Israel's raaya meheimna - "faithful shepherd." He is also a "shepherd of faith." He not only asked God to give the Hebrews manna, but also fed the Hebrews spiritually.
The Midrash also tells ''how a kid ran away from the flock under Moses' care. Moses chased after it, until it came to a spring and began to drink. When Moses reached the kid he cried: "Oh, I did not know that you were thirsty!" He cradled the runaway kid in his arms and carried it to the flock. Said the Almighty: "You are merciful in tending sheep - you will tend My flock, the people of Israel."''
The sages teach that Moses realized that the kid did not run away from the flock because of a bad nature. It was thirsty. So when a Jew turns his back from God, even a Rabbi who might lock his Temple on Yom ha Shabbat, it is because His soul thirsts for meaning in life. But he is unskilled in ''swimming in the waters of Torah.'' This Jew then imitates behaviors of his gentile neighbors, until, as you have taught us, Rabbi Segal, he is blessed to come upon the steps of Jewish Spiritual Renewal.
So it is Moses' patience to help us Jews spiritually drink and learn, that makes a good Jewish leader and Rabbi. Nations around us, who live in the non-spiritual realm, do not understand us. And misunderstanding, can lead to hatred. The more we act like Jews, especially doing things that our neighbors expect us to do, like not working on Saturdays, or being in Synagogue, or being honest in business, the more our actions garner respect and break down suspicions.
When we are so arrogant to not have fear and awe of God, to flaunt his mitzvoth publicly in front of our gentile neighbors, can we be surprised when they do not trust us to have fear or awe of the civil laws or their rights, which are of man? Moses taught us that the mitzvoth were for our 'own good.' Not doing the obvious ones are for our 'own bad.'
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Robert writes;
Hi.
The Haftarah says: "In days to come Jacob will strike root ; Israel will spout and blossom and the face of the world will be covered with fruit." (Isaiah 27:6) Isaiah's prophecy is a promise that Israel will be ''planted'' in its own land. The world will be filled with our blessings. Look at all we have given the world!!
The Parasha says: ''But the Israelites were fertile and prolific; they multiplied and increased very greatly, so that the land was filled with them." (Exodus 1:1:7) There is mystical about the experience in Egypt that made Israel into a people that would be a blessing for the world.
''The Egyptian experience served as preparation for future exiles. The suffering inflicted by Egyptian bondage provided the children of Israel with the spiritual strength and fortitude necessary to overcome all of the conditions of exile. In addition, it gave them the merit necessary so that God would always be with them in all times of trouble,'' says Rabbi Aryeh Leib Alter in The Sefat Emet.
Talmudic rabbinic tradition puts heavy weight on our slavery in Egypt. The rabbis claim that it formed us forever . Many of Torah's mitzvoth associated with societal justice have the words that God took us out from the suffering in Egypt. It is because of our misery in Egypt, and our many horrid years there after, that the Talmud teaches us to be different that other nations, when it comes to dealing with other people, including those who swear to be our enemies.
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Richard writes:
Did anyone notice at the end of Beresheit and in this Parasha (the beginning of Exodus) we have two sets of two parallel verses?
"These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each coming with his household" (Ex 1:1); and "These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt" (Gen. 46:8).
And: "The total number of persons that were of Jacob' s issue came to seventy" (Ex: 1:5); and "Thus the total number of Jacob's household who came to Egypt was seventy persons" (Gen. 46:27).
And the list of sons in Genesis and Exodus is different. The order is different and Joseph is not included in the Exodus list."Look, the NATION of Benei Yisrael are much too numerous for us" (Ex. 1:9). In only 9 lines into the book of Exodus, we have turned from the family of Jacob to now being called the Nation of the Children of Israel for the first time. It is this nation, not just a family, that will endure suffering, redemption, and ultimately natan (giving) of Torah on Mt. Sinai.
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Diane writes:
There is an interesting Midrash about the burning bush. The Torah reads: And God's angel appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and Moshe looked and saw the bush was on fire, but the bush was not consumed." Note that this was an angel that appeared.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Karcha of Talmudic times was asked by a non-Jew, "Why did your God speak to Moses from the midst of a bush and not from a different tree?"
Rabbi Yehoshua answered, "Had He revealed himself from a carob tree, you would have asked the same question: Why that tree and not another one. However, now that you asked, I will answer you: God wanted to show Moses that there was no place where He cannot be found and that He rests not only in the tall trees but also in a low bush.''
The Midrash goes on to say that it was a thorn bush to show that God suffers equally when man suffers, and it was a burning bush that was not consumed to show that even though the Hebrews were suffering, they would survive and be redeemed and not be destroyed by our enemies.
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Ok. Great comments and posts. Thanks to all.
God willing, I will send out another class after Shabbat 1/17 is over, for the Shabbat for 1/24/09.
So have a great rest of the week, and a joyous Shabbat.
Many Blessings,
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
Jewish Spiritual Renewal:Shabbat 1/17/09:Hebrew College,MA:Torah,Talmud,TaNaK
Shalom Chaverim v' Talmidim:
Shavuah Tov!!
Three points before we get into this coming Shabbat's Parasha with some TaNaK and Talmud study.
1) Mozel Tov to our fellow, newly ordained Rabbi Sue M, and all of our other Renewal Rabbis!!! May you all go forth and arise like lions in the morning to do the will of G!D.
2) I was incorrect when I stated that Dylan's song ''Neighborhood Bully'' was not recorded. It was on his Infidel album. This was sent to me by Brian in Canada, along with this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ENZZrYe_rg . Note, that we rabbis always need a gabbai, always learn from our fellows, and never ever must stop learning. I have learned more from those I teach, than from my teachers. And I am echoing words of our Talmudic sages.
3) We always have new members joining the class,Baruch ha Shem. We just finished Beresheit, Genesis. You can access every class, by going to the archives at the website at the very bottom of this class. If you have difficulty, then email me at RabbiASegal@aol.com and I will copy and paste every past class to you.
OK. We are now into Exodus.
As a Spiritual Renewal Rabbi who has been blessed to have traveled, I understand that Yiddish, is not the only Creole language that our people developed in Galut. Ladino, spoken by the Jews of Spain and other Sephardim, is one that immediately comes to mind. But my grandparents, of blessed memory, spoke Yiddish and I remember many phrases they said to me in their moma loshen, mother tongue.
'Vosder mentsh tun zihk aleyn volten in kayn tzen sonim nit vintsehn'' and "Got shrtroft, der mentsch is sikh noyken''. The first translates into: ''What a person does to himself, ten enemies wouldn't wish on him'' (the same applies to nations, as history shows few fail from external enemies but usually from internal policies), and the second translates as: '' God punishes, but people take revenge.''
Because many in our class at Hebrew College are those getting their Masters degrees in Jewish Education, and because we have many Jewish Educators in this class, the d'var Torah below addresses Jewish Education in the USA today, especially for our children. Tell me how your kids would do on the little quiz I have made part of the D'var...or how you do.
While the yetzer ha ra will always be with us, the antidote the Talmud teaches is Torah and Talmud study. [Talmud Bavli Tractate Kiddushin 30b]. (The word antidote is a mistranslation of tahvlin. Torah is actually a spice, or better still, a condiment, to the yetzer ha ra. Judaism knows we cannot kill our evil inclination, and God made us this way. Instead we align it with God's will.)
Some Talmud: Yerushalmi Tractate Beracoth 9.5 "Our forefather Abraham made his yetzer ha ra good.''
When we learn how to behave, and learn how others dealt with real life situations and still managed to stay ethical, we do not get swayed so easily by our evil inclination to take the soft and easy way and to be unjust and unkind in our dealings with others.
When one treats us with their yetzer ha ra, e.g. rebuffs our greetings, or doesn't answer an email, or is jealous of us (covets), we have to respond to these spiritually ill folk with love and kindness. They are separated from God. Rabbi Abraham the son of the Rambam says: ''The Yetzer ha Tov is the intellect. The yetzer ha ra is one's animal desires.'' Just as we do not hate a puppy who doesn't know any better and urinates on the rug, we cannot let ourselves get angry with folks whose ego, their yetzer ha ra, has them marking their territory, as well.
So what part of Jewish religious school did Bernie Madoff miss? At what point did Mr. Madoff let his yetzer ha ra make-off with his ethical compass and stop treating his fellows the way he would wish to be treated?
Some Torah: Gen 6:11: "The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth became full of robbery." We are discussing Noah's time, before the flood.
Some Talmud: Talmud Bavli Tractate Sanhedrin 108a : ''Their sentence was not sealed except for theft.'' In other words, of all the evil things men and women were doing, from kinky sex with themselves and animals, God flooded them because of stealing.
Some Midrash: Midrash Rabbah Genesis 38:6: Even when the folks built the Tower of Babel to be like God, God didn't kill them. He just sent them away in different directions speaking different languages. Why? They worked in harmony to build the Tower! "The Generation of the Flood who were robbers and there was strife between them, and therefore they were destroyed." But not those building the Tower.
Some more Torah (ah, it won't hurt you): Genesis 13:7: ''And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock.'' So what were they fighting about?
Some more Midrash: Midrash (Rabbah Genesis 41:5): '' Lot's herdsmen pastured their animals in fields belonging to others, Abraham's herdsmen kept their cattle muzzled, and rebuked their counterparts for committing robbery...''
Four out of the Ten Commandments deal with honesty: Stealing, lying under oath, coveting, and adultery.
Some Talmud:Bavli Tractate Pirkei Avot 4:2: Rabbi Ben Azzai said, "One mitzvah leads to another and one transgression induces another transgression." Can you think if your Synagogue ignores a basic precept, and then expects people to follow other precepts?
Some TaNaK: Psalms 24:3-4, "Who will ascend upon God's mountain and who will stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not taken My name in vain and has not sworn deceitfully." If we as Jews stuck by this rule today, would our bimahs [pulpits] be empty?
Some more TaNaK :(Isaiah 58:2-11): "Daily they pretend to seek Me, desiring knowledge of My ways . . . 'Why have we fasted and You did not see?' they ask. 'We have afflicted our soul and You do not know?' Behold, on the day of your fast you pursue your affairs, and from all your debtors you forcibly exact payment. Behold, for quarrel and strife you fast, and to strike with a fist of wickedness..."
"Loosen the fetters of wickedness, untie the bands of perverseness, send the oppressed free, and break every oppressive yoke. Offer your bread to the hungry, bring the wandering poor into your home. When you see someone naked, clothe him . . . Then you shall call and God shall answer, you shall cry and He shall say, 'Here I am.' . . . God will always guide you and satiate your soul with radiance..."
"Loosen the fetters of wickedness, untie the bands of perverseness, send the oppressed free, and break every oppressive yoke. Offer your bread to the hungry, bring the wandering poor into your home. When you see someone naked, clothe him . . . Then you shall call and God shall answer, you shall cry and He shall say, 'Here I am.' . . . God will always guide you and satiate your soul with radiance..."
Now would not that be great if this is how we all spent Yom Kippur day?
Some more Talmud: Bavli Tractate Pirkei Avot 2:12: ''Rabbi Yosi said 'The money of your fellow should be as precious to you as your own; prepare yourself to study Torah…'" If we truly understand what he is teaching one has to learn to respect and love his fellow, before he can truly approach God and Torah.
Some more Talmud: Bavli Tractate Avodah Zarah 18a: Circa 135 CE Rome forbid the study of any of our texts. 300 years before the Greeks forbid the study of the Chumash, so Jews studied the books of Prophets which is how the Haftarah developed (Those teaching that it developed in Roman times are incorrect.).
Rabbi Chanina is going to teach anyway, and is captured in the middle of a Torah lecture and burned alive. He was wrapped in a wet Torah to prolong his death and he said joyously he could see the letters ''dance of the scroll to heaven.''
But a few days before, he asked Rabbi Yosi : "Will I be deserving of a portion in the World to Come?"
Now listen carefully to what this brilliant sage listed as an answer when Yosi asked him if he had done anything of special merit in his life.
Chanina said he once had two bags of money—one for charity, and the other for his obligations. He accidentally gave his money bag to the charity. He could have reimbursed himself from the other bag. But rather than put his hand into the bag of money for the needy, he gave the second bag for charity too.
"In that case," answers Rabbi Yosi, "may my portion be like your portion; my lot like your lot." Of all the deeds Chanina did: Talmud scholar and teacher, putting his life at stake for Judaism, his honesty with public charity funds was the deed to guarantee him entrance to Olam Ha Ba.
"In that case," answers Rabbi Yosi, "may my portion be like your portion; my lot like your lot." Of all the deeds Chanina did: Talmud scholar and teacher, putting his life at stake for Judaism, his honesty with public charity funds was the deed to guarantee him entrance to Olam Ha Ba.
Some more Talmud: Bavli Tractate Talmud, Shabbat 31a: Rabbah says that when a soul goes to heaven, the very first question he is asked is: "Did you conduct your business honestly?"
Some Talmud: Bavli Beracoth Tractate 17a-b: "May you see your world in your life, and may your end be for the world to come and your hope for many generations. May your heart deliberate over understanding, may your mouth speak wisdoms and may your tongue bring forth song. May your eyelids make you look straight before you, may your eyes be enlightened with the light of Torah and may your face glow like the brightness of the sky. May your lips express knowledge and your insides rejoice in uprightness, and may your steps hasten to hear the words of the Ancient of Days, the Almighty."
This prayer was said for millennia to Jewish students as they left Hebrew school. May we again see Jewish Religious Schools go from two hours a week to a minimum of six. May we teach the joy of being Jewish. May we teach the joy of the gift of Shabbat. May we take our children with us to Shabbat day services and make clear that we find it unacceptable and unJewish to have doors locked and bolted on our Sabbath at our Temples. We do not demand that others worship on Shabbat. But we can no long tolerate others dictating to those of us who wish to worship on Shabbat and telling us that we and our children cannot. May we teach Jewish ethics to our children. And may our children learn well, and teach their parents what they are taught. Amen.
As usual a D'var Torah for the Parasha for Shabbat 1/17/09 follows.
Many blessings, Shalom, and Shavuah Tov!!
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
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
Parasha Shemoth: Exodus 1:01-6:01
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
"The Name Game"
In the first lines of this Parasha, the names of Jacob's sons who came with him to
While the second of the Five Books of Moses is called Exodus in Latin and English, it is called Shemoth (Names) in Hebrew because of the listing of Jacob's sons.
Jacob's grandchildren's generation succumbed to the pleasures of
In this Torah portion (Ex. 3:11) and Sephardic Haftarah (Jer. 1:6), we see both Moses and Jeremiah state to God that they are not suited for the tasks that God is asking them to do. We all shy away at times from challenging tasks that we know are proper to do. Although they are typically not on as grand a scale of being a great leader or a prophet, our obligations are important nevertheless.
Like Levi, we have an obligation to teach our children our traditions. As modern Jews, we may not feel we are obligated to observe (shomar) the Torah, but we are obligated to remember (zachor) the Torah. Here is a short test for you and your children to take and see how well we are doing in the task to teach our traditions.
A1. Name Jesus' Mother: _________________________________
A2. Name Jesus' Father: __________________________________
B1. Name Moses' Mother: ________________________________
B2. Name Moses' Father: _________________________________
A3. Name the three parts of the Trinity:
______________________________________________________
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B3. Name the three Jewish Pilgrimage Festivals:
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A4. Name any 5 of Jesus' 12 disciples:
______________________________________________________
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B4. Name any 5 of our 12 tribes:
______________________________________________________
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A5. On what mount did Jesus preach? ________________________
B5. On what mount did Moses die? __________________________
A6. What did Jesus do on the
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B6. What did Joshua do on the
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A7. Name the three wise men:
______________________________________________________
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B7. Name Abraham's three wives:
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If you or your kids scored more A answers correct than B answers, perhaps it is time for more Jewish study. Take an active role in your children's Jewish education and your own. Consider attending adult education classes. Read the weekly Torah portion at home. Support your synagogue's religious school. Perhaps it is time in your life for Jewish Spiritual Renewal. Try not to be like Moses or Jeremiah and shy away from your obligations as a parent or as an individual Jewish person.
The debate over patrilineal versus matrilineal descent continues. The true answer to "who is a Jew?" is "he or she who will have Jewish grandchildren."
Shabbat Shalom:
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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