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Rabbi Arthur Segal

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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Sunday, May 8, 2011

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: DEREK ERETZ: PURSUE SHALOM DERECH

 
RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: DEREK ERETZ: PURSUE SHALOM DERECH ERETZ
 
(NB: I am writing this a few hours before the 5th of Iyar, Israel's Day of Independence,Yom Ha'atzmaut  ,יום העצמאות‎,  being celebrated in Israel on Tuesday the 6th of Iyar, Gregorian May 10, 2011. If you live near the Hilton Head Island, SC area, it is being celebrated on Thursday May 12, 2011 at 5 PM at Congregation Beth Yam, jointly with Congregation Oseh Shalom of Bluffton, SC.
 
 I dedicate this class to my friends and our fellow talmidim Bill and Jeni Bilek  the organizers of this event, to all of those volunteers and board members in Oseh Shalom and Beth Yam,  working diligently for this event, to my friend and talmid  Mike Regal for his band playing at the event, and to my dear Chaver Rabbi Brad Bloom of Beth Yam for nurturing Judaism on our Island, and most importantly to the Judaic principles of Am Israel Chai v' Rodef Shalom, Keeping the People of Israel Alive, and Pursuing Peace.) 
 
Jewish Spiritual Renewal: Derek Eretz Zuta + Rabbah:
 
Shabbat 05/14/11
 
(aka Derech Eretz )
 
The JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL class list is hosted by Shamash: The Jewish Network a service of Hebrew College/Yeshiva
 
Shalom my dear Chaverim, Talmidim, v' Rabbanim, friends, students and fellow rabbis. Welcome back from our month break for Passover.
 
An oneg, joy-filled, Shabbat, Sabbath, this weekend.. 
 
We continue with our exploration into the Talmudic Tractates of Derek Eretz Zuta and Rabbah. (aka Derech Eretz Zuta, aka Derech Eretz Rabbah. As was mentioned, zuta is Aramaic for 'small', and rabbah is 'large').
 
 Remember that Derek Eretz is not about Jewish ritual. It is about how we are to treat one another and what traits of character, middot, we are to try to develop. The lessons are universal and ecumenical.
 
For those new to the class, Baruch ha Ba! Welcome! You can access last week's class  at  
 
 From here you will find links to preceding classes in this  series.
 So,  together we continue:
 
TALMUD BAVLI
 
 
TRACTATE DEREK
 
 
ERETZ ZUTA
 
(aka Derech Eretz)
 
Today we begin CHAPTER 2.
Talmud Bavli Tractate Derek Eretz Zuta Verse   2:1 
 
'' Let all thy ways be for the sake of Heaven. Love Heaven, and fear it. Tremble at, and at the same time rejoice over all commandments. Sit before the elders, and let thy ears be attentive to their words.''
 
Let us start off by taking the words of the Talmud, translated from Aramaic, into an easily read statement. I invite you to try this: ''Live a life that is good and just. Love what is good and just and pursue it. Love and be in awe of Judaism's ethical teachings. Study our 2500 + years of rabbinic ethical teachings and follow them.''
 
When we parse this we see that we are being taught to negate the will of our yetzer ha ra, our inclination to do wrong, to do always listen to that ''still small voice'' telling us to do what is right and just.
 
We are to love and appreciate goodness and justice, and understand that by living a life like this, we become spiritually attached to the Divine. When we do what we call in Judaism "God's will,'' we are much less apt to step on the toes of others. When we do not toe step, we then become less apt to come into conflict  with others.
 
Some people are enemy centered. If they are not fighting with someone or some organization, they are not happy. Derek Eretz teaches us to let lashon ha ra, gossip, even slander, to not stick to us. We lose that skin of Velcro and develop one of Teflon. We do not respond. These spiritually ill folk will find someone else soon enough to attempt to molest.
 
As I was taught long ago on this spiritual rabbinic path: ''Moses and even God couldn't please everyone, and neither will you.'' And the Yiddish expression of "If God lived on earth, people would throw rocks through His window," implies the same.
 
So we are to pursue what is good and just. While there is a part of Judaism that teaches we must seek out injustice and help correct it, with Derek Eretz, concerned about our relations with others, we are being taught to root out our OWN character defects that lead us away from being good, just and full of ahavath chesed (loving kindness). We do this with a process of Jewish Spiritual  Renewal, teshuvah, by starting with an inventory of our soul, called a Chesbon ha Nefesh.
 
We take stock of our lives and realize that how society is showing us how to behave, (e.g.:Two And a Half Men, Housewives of various Cities, "Entertainment News''),  is not what works well for us. Hence we learn to appreciate the sage advice that is universal and timeless. By studying a tractate of Talmud such as Derek Eretz, literally ''walking the land,'' but meaning how we get along with others, we are doing such and our lives become spiritually richer and connected.
 
Next week, Baruch ha Shem, we will continue with chapter two of of Derek Eretz Zuta .
 
We discuss the aspects of this verse of negating our will and ego and doing what is good and just, throughout the majority of chapters in  The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew  as well as in most chapters of A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud  .
 
What are your ideas about leading a life where you put aside your selfish desires?  How has learning that Judaism  believes in a loving God helped you live in harmony with others? How has understanding the spiritual and ethical teachings of Judaism  helped you live a happier life?
 
Next class, Baruch ha Shem, we will continue with Derek Eretz Zuta ,  continuing  Chapter Two. Thank you for joining me.
 
 
 
Shalom:
 
Rabbi Arthur Segal www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org
Via Shamash Org on-line class service
Jewish Renewal www.jewishrenewal.info
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Eco Judaism
Hilton Head Island, SC, Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA
 
If visiting SC's Low Country, contact us for a Shabbat meal, in our home by the sea, our beth yam.
 
Maker of Shalom (Oseh Shalom) help make us deserving of Shalom beyond all human comprehension!
 
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Posted by Rabbi Arthur Segal at Sunday, May 08, 2011