 | The Bedtime Shema
| | | Master of the Universe, I hereby forgive anyone who angered or antagonized me or who sinned against me - whether against my body, my property, my honor or against anything of mine;
whether he did so accidentally, willfully, carelessly, or purposely; whether through speech, deed, thought, or notion; whether in this transmigration or another transmigration - I forgive everyone.
May no man be punished because of me.
May it will be Your will, ha Shem, my G!d and the G!d of my forefathers, that I may sin no more.
Whatever sins I have done before You, may You blot out in Your abundant mercies, but not through suffering or bad illnesses.
May the expressions of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart find favor before You, ha Shem, my Rock and my Redeemer.
| | Book of Micah 7:18-20
| | | Who is a G!d like You?
You forgive sins and overlook transgressions.
For the survivors of Your People; He does not retain His anger forever, for He loves Kindness; He will return and show us mercy, and overcome our sins.
And You will cast into the depths of the sea all their sins;
You will show kindness to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, As You did promise to our fathers of old.
| | Prayer of Teshuvah, Renewal
| | | Turn us back to You, O G!d, and we shall return.
Ha-shiveynu Adonai aylecha v'na-shuva, chadeysh yameynu k'kedem.
Adonai Adonai, Compassion and Tenderness,
Patience and Forbearance,
Kindness and Awareness,
Bearing love from age to age,
Lifting guilt and mistakes and making us Free.
Adonai Adonai, Eyl rahum v'hanun,
ereh apa-yim,
v'rav chesed ve-emt.
No-tzeyr chesed la-alafim,
nosey avon va-fe-sha v'hata-a v'nakey.
| | Talmud Bavli Tractate Shabbat 31a
| | | When a person is brought in for heavenly judgment, they say to him:
Did you deal honestly?
Did you fix times for Torah study?
Did you engage in procreation?
Did you await salvation?
Did you inquire into wisdom?
Did you understand one thing from another?
| | Midrash Tanchuma Genesis 7
| | | G!d has made man upright, but they sought many intrigues.
Excl. 7:29
The Holy One, Blessed is He, Who is upright and righteous, created man in His image so that he too would be upright and righteous. One may ask: If so, then why did G!d create the evil inclination? As it is written: "The imagery of man's heart is evil from his youth."
Gen. 8:21
If G!d Himself refers to this inclination as "evil,'' then who can possibly transform it into something good? G!d responds: "It is you who has made it evil! As a child, you did not sin - it is when you matured that you sinned! There are many items in this world more rigid and bitter than the evil inclination, yet you make them sweet. There is nothing more bitter then turmusin, yet you diligently cook it seven times until it turns sweet ... surely then, you can do the same with the evil inclination that is given over into your hands" The intent of the Midrash is clear. G!d has given us the ability to subdue our evil inclination. It is written: "... yet you can conquer it (the evil inclination -- yetzer ha ra)''
Gen.4:7 It is us alone, through our thoughts and deeds, who determines who will be the victor in this crucial struggle, as we have free will. We can learn to conquer our yetzer ha ra via the The Path of Transformation through Jewish Spiritual Renewal. | Click Here to Order Rabbi Arthur Segal's Books:
The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal:
A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew
A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the
Torah and Talmud
| | | | The Month of Elul
A Holiday Message From Rabbi Arthur Segal's Jewish Spiritual Renewal August 2010
| | | Shalom My Dear Chaverim, Talmidim and Rabbanim:
On August 10 at sundown we will begin our celebration of the Month of Elul.
The first day of this month is one of the most ancient Hebraic holidays, and from the Hebraic roots Judaism assigns spiritual relevance.
Today, we celebrate Elul's Judaic rabbinic spiritual lessons.
Traditionally, farm animals were tithed to the Temple in Jerusalem on the First of Elul. In fact, it is one of four Hebraic new years on the calendar, the new year for farm animals.
Just as the farmers counted and inspected their flocks, the rabbis taught that G!d counts and inspects us as His flock.
Elul is the time to "get ourselves right" with G!d and with our fellows if we have not already done so during the year.
| | | |  | | So, Happy Rosh Chodesh Elul!
 Elul is the month for a true Jewish Spiritual Renewal "catch-up." In fact, when we look over the chapters in my book, The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew, we can see a close relationship between many of our Holidays and Rituals. For example:
- Elul's Chesbon ha Nefesh
- Selicoth's Vidui
- Rosh Ha Shana's Tashlich
- Yom Kippur's Teshuvah
I will explain these rituals in greater detail shortly, but first, some more about Elul.
An illustrative story is told of a Chasid who hurried past Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna on the first day of Elul.
The rabbi asked him, "Why are you hurrying?"
"Well," he said, "I must look in the Machzor High Holy Day Special Prayer Book, and put my prayers in order."
"The prayer book is the same as it was last year," replied the rabbi. "It would be far better for you to look into your deeds (Chesbon ha Nefesh) and put yourself in order."
Many spend the month Elul concerned with getting tickets to High Holy Days services, preparing for meals, break-the-fasts, and other social aspects of the holiday.
When we finally go to a Selicoth service (if we go at all) and the rabbi mentions Teshuvah - since this day is only a week or less before Rosh Ha Shana - we do not have the time, if we have the willingness, to really transform.
This is why so many of us do the Tashlich service, casting our defects into moving water, only to find they have found their way back to us by the time we get home.
This is also why many of us carry resentments into Yom Kippur services, and fail to leave them behind.
Listening to a lecture about Teshuvah is not the same as doing the process leading up to true Teshuvah.
In Hebrew, Elul is an acronym for the verses:
"And G!d, your Lord, will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants;"
Deut. 30:6
"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine;"
Song of Songs 6:3
"Sending gifts from a person to his friend and giving presents to the poor." Es.9:22
The verses allude to the three services: repentance, prayer, and charity, which must be eagerly performed in the month of Elul.
"And G!d will circumcise..." alludes to the service of repentance.
"I am my beloved's..." alludes to the service of prayer, which is "a song of lovers."
"Sending gifts..." alludes to the service of charity. (Kitzer Shulchan Aruch, 1281:1 by Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried)
The Shofar is blown the morning of each day of Elul except the last day, which is also Erev Rosh Ha Shana.
There are many legends that say this abstention is meant to confuse the Satan - the accusing angel - so Satan will not know when to appear before G!d to present the evidence against us.
An example is found on page 18 of Magein Avraham:
"Not blowing the shofar on erev Rosh Hashanah confuses Satan, the Accuser. When he does not hear the shofar blasts on erev Rosh Hashanah, he becomes bewildered. He wonders if Rosh Hashanah has already passed. He believes that he missed the day on which Ha Shem judges the world, and that he passed up his chance of denouncing the Jewish people. Baffled and perplexed, he is speechless and remains silent''
However, we also have a more practical reason:
"We do not blow the shofar on erev Rosh Hashanah to make a distinction between the sound of the shofar during Elul, which was instituted by the Rabbis, and the sound of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, which is a mitzvah of the Torah."
Turei Zahav, p. 18
| | | | | As we hear the shofar, feel the spirit flowing through our bodies with each breath.
As we hear the shofar, ask for strength and courage to master our character defects.
As we hear the shofar, quiet the flood of words in our minds and simply hear sound.
As we hear the shofar, remove all stops from our hearing and tune into shofar's resonance with our soul.
As we hear the shofar, listen closely for someone who is responding with his or her call for a truce, forgiveness, and peace.
As we hear the shofar, hear its voice announce a new beginning. What rebellion - against ourselves, our family, our community, or God - are we ready to end?
As we hear the shofar, listen for the faint voices of the parts of us that are in exile. Allow the shofar to be a beacon to guide our fragmented selves back into wholeness...shlema.
As we hear the shofar , have the courage to look into even the darkest corners of our souls and know that there is yet hope.
As we hear the shofar , feel gratitude for the freedom we have to decide for ourselves whether "to observe the Teaching and the Commandment." Then, make the right choice.
(As We Hear the Shofar is paraphrased from M. Chusid, ba'al tekiah)
"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!''
Deut. 30:19
As we say on every day of Elul up to and including Yom Kippur:
May you be written and sealed for a good year. | | | | | Getting right with G!d is a process called Teshuvah. It means "return" or "renewal." Many Jews today are not aware of this process, and therefore cannot affect true Teshuvah.
These days, there are very few rabbis who actually spend time teaching the actual steps of Teshuvah to their "flocks."
Perhaps this is because Teshuvah can only be taught effectively one person to another, not to a congregation from the pulpit.
Think about it. How many of you go to High Holy day services, beat your chest as a list of communal sins is read aloud, then leave the synagogue with the same character defects and holding the same grudges as when you entered?
I was fortunate to have learned Teshuvah - the right way - many years ago. It had a tremendous positive impact on my life.
When I became a rabbi, I decided that I could best serve my fellows by teaching Teshuvah - and many other Judaic lessons - the same way I had learned; one-on-one.
Over the years I encountered so many dispirited Jewish people who were turning away from their faith because they were not finding the happiness and inspiration that Judaism promises.
This is because they were not being exposed to the Talmudic teachings of a loving and kind G!d who would show them the path to a peaceful, happy, spiritual life.
I did (and still do) what I can to help as many of modern-day Jews find that path through one-on-one counseling, but one day I asked myself:
How can I show this path to even more people?
The answers are:
Several years ago I began conducting online classes that are offered through Shamash Online Class Service, sponsored by Hebrew College Yeshiva.
In this class I teach the step-by-step path of transformation attained by Jewish Spiritual Renewal.
The class is free, and you can join by sending an email (with "Join Class" in the subject line) to:
In addition to the online classes, last year I wrote and published The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew.
The book is an ideal complement - "textbook" if you will - to my classes. Although it is not required that you buy the book to join the class, it does provide an added dimension of flexibility to study and progress on your own.
The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew is currently used world wide as a step-by-step guide to achieving true spiritual Teshuvah by members of my class and non-members alike.
(Lessons of Elul continue below)
| | | | | | A More Joyful, Peaceful and Spiritual Life
is only a few steps away.
Rabbis (myself included) often speak of such things as Teshuva, Tashlich, Vidui and Selicah, but rarely are these concepts presented in a context that makes sense to everyday modern life.
My book, The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew, teaches you how to transform your life into one that is happier, more peaceful, and more spiritual, regardless of what is going on in the world around you.
And it is all written in the context of modern-day life.
In this book, I distill the teachings of our sages and rabbis that have been passed along for thousands of years, along with lessons from the Torah and the Talmud.
But unlike other Jewish spiritual texts that you may have read, or sermons you may have heard, this book presents these lessons in a concise, easy-to-read, easy-to-follow life transformation process that you can follow step-by-step at your own pace.
You will learn:
- That "normative" Judaism as you have known it throughout your life is not really Judaism at all, why it may leave you uninspired, and how spiritual renewal will help you recapture that inspiration (Chapter 1).
- That your ego can be your own worst enemy, and how to win the battle against it (Chapter 2).
- How to stop struggling for control over things you cannot control, and be happier because of it (Chapter 3).
- How spiritual renewal conquers the fears and character flaws that are holding you back in life (Chapters 4 and 5).
- To actually get rid of your character flaws forever (Chapter 6).
- How to turn negative relationships in your life positive (Chapter 7).
- How simple it is to make prayer a regular part of your days...without going back to Hebrew school (Chapter 8).
- How to find peace of mind through meditation (Chapter 9).
- How to simplify life's toughest decisions
(Chapter 10). - How spiritual renewal transforms you into the best individual you can be, and how to stay on track (Chapter 11).
- How to celebrate the Sabbath and the Jewish Holidays with meaning (Chapters 12 and 13).
- How to live with happiness, joy, and freedom every day of your life (Chapter 14).
The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew is only $19.99 (plus S&H) when you purchase your copy from Rabbi Arthur Segal's online bookstore. That's $5.00 off the Amazon price.
Click the link below to order.
| | | | | | What the Ancient Sages Taught, But is Missing in Mainstream Judaism
As history teaches (and as mentioned earlier in this message), there is a difference between Hebraism and Rabbinic Talmudic Judaism.
In fact, there was actually bloodshed between the two religions. The rabbis teach us in Talmud Bavli Tractate Derek Eretz Zuta, Chapter 1: "Do not discuss religion with the Hebraists, so that you will not fall into Gehena (Hell)."
Both include the Five Books of Moses, but Hebraism stops there. On the other hand, rabbinic Judaism gives us the Talmud, Midrash and the rest of the TaNaK.
What exactly is Hebraism leaving out?
If you study the Talmud and Midrash you will learn of the forgiving, merciful, loving and kind Judaic G!d, and that the Gates of Repentance, or Renewal, are always open.
Hebraism only shows you the G!d who smites, floods, sends plagues, and has the earth swallow up those who err.
But what does that mean in the context of your life?
Well, the lessons found in the Talmud and Midrash show the contrasts between a life with G!d and a life without Him.
Without G!d, ego finds the door open to rule your life. It clashes with others' egos, and a life filled with shalom is lost in the constant struggle to "make it to the top" and stay there.
Those who make it there spend a lifetime clashing with those who try to knock them down, and those who don't sulk, get angry, and end up wallowing in negative feelings like self-pity and jealousy.
The common thread is that nobody finds shalom this way.
Living with G!d means accepting that He rules your life. He is Master of the Universe, and you no longer "play G!d" by trying to change or control circumstances and the behavior of others.
When you realize these things, and that you can only change yourself, you have taken the first step up the path to a life of filled with shalom.
The path is called Jewish Spiritual Renewal, and my book, The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew, will help you start up that path, and guide you step-by-step along the entire journey.
It is truly a wonderful and fascinating trip, and you may be surprised at how much you will learn about yourself.
For example...
| | | | Go to the Mirror, Boy!
Traveling up the path to Jewish Spiritual Renewal, with G!d at your side, you will learn to do a detailed Chesbon ha Nefesh - inventory of your soul - and learn how your fears and insecurities can drive you into untoward behavior.
You will see how resentment toward others eats away at you, but does nothing to resolve the problems that cause you to resent in the first place.
You will become aware of your character defects (You know, the ones that friends, relatives and co-workers are more than happy to remind you about!), and you will learn to abhor these character defects and the negative behavior that they engender.
You will make a conscious decision to change, not because others tell you that you need to, but because you want to.
And you will come clean with G!d, yourself, and everybody you know.
Here's how...
| | | | Take Me to the River
Confessing your sins to G!d is the easy part because it's between you and Him. There's nobody else in the room.
Coming clean with other people is another story. It can be embarrassing, intimidating, and humiliating.
But while you are on the Jewish Spiritual Renewal path, you will know that G!d is guiding you, and His presence will give you the strength to overcome those feelings.
You will learn to do Vidui (confession) to G!d and to a trusted Rabbi, and you will ask G!d to help you cast your sins away (Tashlich) symbolically into moving water.
Then you will seek out people you have harmed in your life and apologize (Selicah) to them.
When you make amends with the people you have harmed, you return them to the state they were in before you harmed them, and you return to a spiritually connected life. This is Teshuvah.
Teshuvah is probably the hardest part of this process, but the knowledge that G!d is right there with you will help you through it.
Jewish Spiritual Renewal helps to reinforce that knowledge...
| | | | Take Me to the Pilot
Surely you've seen the bumper sticker that says: "G!d is My Co-pilot."
Clever as it may be, Jewish Spiritual Renewal reminds us that G!d is the Master of the Universe, which pretty much makes Him "the Pilot."
As you travel up the path to Renewal, you learn to pray and meditate...to talk to G!d...and then to quietly listen to His Good Orderly Directions.
We call this mindfully walking with G!d, and we strive to walk with Him every day. We do Derek Eretz - treating others with kindness, love and honesty - while ignoring the ego imploring us to do otherwise.
The rest of the steps are all lifelong processes: celebrating spiritual Sabbaths and Holy Days; growing spiritually daily; and living life in harmony, integration (shlema), shalom, joyousness, and freedom from ego.
Those of us who walk with G!d are prepared for the Holy Days of Selicoth, Rosh Ha Shana and Yom Kippur. And we exit services free of the grudges and defects with which we entered.
We are spiritually renewed, following the Path of Transformation.
This - Jewish Spiritual Renewal - is the spiritual significance of Elul.
| | | | Many Blessings and May you be written and sealed for a good year.
Rabbi Arthur Segal
| | | | | | The Torah and Talmud
A Modern Interpretation
In my years of Rabbinic Counseling I've noticed that many modern Jews are not as familiar with the Torah and the Talmud as they might be.
They find it difficult to understand and interpret in a way that makes sense and has relevance to their lives in the modern world.
The spiritual disconnection that this causes inspired me to write a second book, A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud.
 This book instills Jewish values and an understanding of the Torah and Talmud's teachings in plain English and from a modern point of view.
The Talmud teaches that the Torah is about loving our fellow man and that we are to ''go and study.'' The rest is commentary.
A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud clarifies the commentary and allows one to study the Torah and the Talmud to learn the Judaic ideals of love, forgiveness, kindness, mercy and peace.
A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud is only $24.99 (plus S&H) when you purchase your copy from my online bookstore.
That's a $5.00 savings from the Amazon price, and certainly a small amount to pay for the priceless wisdom contained within the Torah and the Talmud.
Click the link below to order.
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Rabbi Arthur Segal
