Bookmark and Share
Join Our Email List
Email:
For Email Newsletters you can trust

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.
Religion Blogs - Blog Rankings

Saturday, August 7, 2010

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL; JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: ELUL FOR JEWISH RENEWAL

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL; JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: ELUL FOR JEWISH RENEWAL 
 
 
JUST IN TIME FOR ELUL:
Announcing the Publishing of the Second Edition of 
 Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew
 
 
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
(For Tashlich)
 
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.

Click Here to Join Rabbi Arthur Segal's Mailing List

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

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103598618134&s=0&e=001U_SfB6pOJLOO1VZlXSTEBstYEJT4_hYiMCTcjF1cDpGMqdBy7xmQyfGamTqbOlZ_91v6Pjjbt26srqlXNSlSlQWjg3lImGhVyYH4E-_DAt03Rqszwf2w2EM8-FMXfnEg
 
 


 
 
 

 
 
 
 


 

 
 
 

 

 
 



 
 


The Month of Elul : The Time to Prepare for a Meaningful High Holy Day Season, via Real Personal and Spiritual Transformation and Renewal 
 
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103598618134&s=0&e=001U_SfB6pOJLOO1VZlXSTEBstYEJT4_hYiMCTcjF1cDpGMqdBy7xmQyZOgKZjTfptq5fJVORGEpuz0H-UUJmGGU0Js5BfaoC_tkFQWQi4TD6vXyOnx7ThlvQ==
Shalom My Dear Chaverim, Talmidim and Rabbanim:

 
On August 10 at sundown begins the Month of Elul.
 

Traditionally, farm animals were tithed to the Temple in Jerusalem on the First of Elul.  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!

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103598618134&s=0&e=001U_SfB6pOJLOO1VZlXSTEBstYEJT4_hYiMCTcjF1cDpGMqdBy7xmQyfGamTqbOlZ_91v6Pjjbt26srqlXNSlSlQWjg3lImGhV2cn5-my184RmxFP1Fj2WK3UMieejZhEZ9EQpR7HMGah_HPf9Udbk9tNdSINWCkK28lddhLVlsBaDqY5qjKz_kNTpF6PhHkiejrT95XjRjmUUEeJwdgorTS0eE8B-CMIv32e_THsi3tbI6bU4R8L_yFt05tphc0MunXcmH6wWGZI=Elul is the month  for a true Jewish Spiritual Renewal "catch-up." In fact, when we look over the chapters in the 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  (An Inventory of our Soul)
  • Selicoth's Vidui (confession)
  • Rosh Ha Shana's Tashlich (casting away our defects)
  • Yom Kippur's Teshuvah (making  amends)
 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, Renewal, and Transformation.  
 

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.
A More Joyful, Peaceful and Spiritual Life

is only a few steps away.


Rabbis (myself included) often speak of such things as Teshuvah, Tashlich, Vidui and Selicah, but rarely are these concepts presented in a context that makes sense to everyday modern life.

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103598618134&s=0&e=001U_SfB6pOJLOO1VZlXSTEBstYEJT4_hYiMCTcjF1cDpGMqdBy7xmQyfGamTqbOlZ_91v6Pjjbt26srqlXNSlSlQWjg3lImGhV2cn5-my184RmxFP1Fj2WK5B-8MSjQwe4rYre8n4jP99nnCrtNnaNZX88efGqpU_cakoyOoUwPNtmuMnFhRqKYA==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).[Chesbon ha Nefesh, Vidui]
  • To actually get rid of your character flaws forever (Chapter 6). [Tashlich]
  • How to turn negative relationships in your life positive (Chapter 7).(Selicah and Teshuvah]
  • 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.

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103598618134&s=0&e=001U_SfB6pOJLOO1VZlXSTEBstYEJT4_hYiMCTcjF1cDpGMqdBy7xmQyfGamTqbOlZ_91v6Pjjbt26srqlXNSlSlQWjg3lImGhV2cn5-my184RmxFP1Fj2WK5B-8MSjQwe4rYre8n4jP99nnCrtNnaNZX88efGqpU_cakoyOoUwPNtmuMnFhRqKYA==

As we say on every day of Elul up to and including Yom Kippur:

''May you be written and sealed for a good year. ''
Shalom u'vracha, Rabbi Arthur Segal

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103598618134&s=0&e=001U_SfB6pOJLOO1VZlXSTEBstYEJT4_hYiMCTcjF1cDpGMqdBy7xmQyfGamTqbOlZ_91v6Pjjbt26srqlXNSlSlQWjg3lImGhV2cn5-my184TUSpERf5p0dk93I2GKZft5

Rabbi Arthur Segal www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org
Jewish Renewal www.jewishrenewal.info
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Eco Judaism
Hilton Head Island, SC, Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA