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RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: BLUFFTON, SC SUN: SEPTEMBER 2011: BIBLE USED TO ELEVATE
Shalom and Peace:
I invite you to continue with a bit more of Jewish Ethics (Derek Eretz) from the Talmud.
''Do not use the Scriptures as a hatchet to cleave with it, nor a spade to dig with it.'' On its face this is admonishing those who have Scriptural knowledge not to use that knowledge to earn income. In fact, the Talmud calls the Scriptures an inheritance of the children of Jacob, [ Morashah k'hillat Ya'akov], and one who refuses to teach it, or charges to teach it, is someone who is stealing another's inheritance [ Talmud Sanhedrin 91b].
Traditionally our rabbis had worldly occupations and were not beholden to lay boards for salary, and hence could teach without fear for their livelihood. The concept of a professional rabbi was not a widely accepted Jewish concept until the 1800s. Thankfully, we see few if any rabbis on late night TV hawking Scriptures for their own benefit.
But this phrase has two deeper meanings. We aren't to use Scriptures against others as a hatchet to harm them, or a spade to bury them, with our tongues. Many sects of various religions fight with each other quoting Scriptures. This goes against basic Derek Eretz. And without Derek Eretz, one can't even study Scriptures properly, or even be clergy {Talmud Pirkei Avot 3:21}. Clergy, sects or congregations, treating other clergy, sects or congregations, as competition to be hacked with a hatchet or buried with a shovel, are not behaving Godfully.
The other deeper spiritual meaning of not using Scriptures as a hatchet or a spade is one that unfortunately we have seen done in almost all religions. Pope Urban II announced with the Bible in his hand, ''Deus Vult'', (God wills it), and the bloody crusades began. And Osama (may his name be blotted out) held a Koran in one hand, yelling ''Bismillah Arrahman Arraheem'', (In the name of Allah, the most gracious the most merciful), and a Jihad against the USA begins.
We Rabbis are not innocent in using the Torah as a call for war or death. Israeli Prime Minister Rabin was killed by a Jew, whose Rabbi taught him, quoting Talmud, that Rabin was a '' Rodef '', a stalker against Israel and ''needed killing.'' A rabbi in south N.J. convinced a congregant that his wife was a Rodef against Israel and needed to be killed. The rabbi and the hit man were convicted of murder. We cannot use Scriptures as a deed for justification for war and death.
Our Scriptures are called Holy, in Hebrew ''Kadosh'', meaning to separate. While we can use texts such as Gray's Anatomy, or Black's Law, or the Federal Tax Code, or Van Dyke's History of Painting et. al. to have occupations in which to succeed, the Scriptures are meant to elevate and separate us from the mundane and not to give us yet another avenue to be pedestrian.
Rabbi Arthur Segal is an international lecturer, author, and teacher. Visit him at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org . Follow him on FaceBook at 'Arthur L Segal', on Twitter at RabbiASegal, or his blog at http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com . Email at RabbiSegal@JewishSpiritualRenewal.net
