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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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Saturday, January 28, 2012

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL : DEREK ERETZ: THINK BEFORE SPEACH

 
RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL : DEREK ERETZ: THINK BEFORE SPEECH
 
Jewish  Spiritual  Renewal:
  
  Derek  Eretz Zuta + Rabbah:
  
 Shabbat  2/11/12 
 
 (aka  Derech  Eretz )
  
 
  
Shalom  my dear Chaverim, Talmidim, v' Rabbanim, friends, students and fellow rabbis: 
  
An oneg, joy-filled, Shabbat this coming weekend to all and a wonderful Tu B'Shevat (2/8/11).  
  
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. The  development of character traits and Jewish spiritual renewal  transformation is called  Mussar.
  
 
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 will begin with  CHAPTER 7 of Talmud  Bavli Tractate Derek Eretz Zuta Verse  7:1-2. 
 

CHAPTER VII.

7:1  There are seven things that characterize a boor, and seven that characterize a wise man. A wise man does not speak before one who is greater than him in wisdom or age. He does not interrupt his fellow's words. He does not hasten to answer. His questions are on the subject and his answers to the point. He responds to first things first and to latter things later. Concerning what he did not hear, he says "I did not hear." He concedes to the truth. With the boor, the reverse of all these is the case.

7:2: A scholar must be careful in his eating, drinking, washing, anointing, in wearing the sandals, in his walking, dressing, in the use of his voice, in the act of spitting, and also with all his good deeds.

When we read verse 7:1 we see it is an exact quotation for Pirkei Avot 5:7. This helps us in dating the two Tractates of Derek Eretz. (see Prologue) Rabba Ben Bag Bag, who is quoted in a verse after Pirkei's 5:7, is an early Tanna, a rabbi from the Mishniac age of 10 to 220 CE. Assuming Derek is quoting Pirkei and not the other way around, we can see that Derek was written it the late Tanna period or a bit after.

Again, the Rabbis want us to learn manners and proper relations with others. They distinguish between learned individuals and those who appear without learning. The list given in 7:1 is self explanatory, albeit not followed much today, if watching TV's entertainment news, with 4 talking heads screaming at each other, is any indication.

7:2 is a list of things learned men are to try to do. Most all also self explanatory. Let me touch on ''anointing'', ''in wearing the sandals,'' and ''spitting.''

Anointing is referring to the use of oil and fragrant perfumes. The Talmud speaks of the use of these items, and one of the 39 melachot,  forbidden work on Shabbat, involves not perfuming one's clothing. One can also not anoint one's skin or hair on fast days, e.g. Yom Kippur. The verse also refers to not overdoing it with anointing one's self in oil. This is reserved for kings, and we need to keep ourselves humble.

On Shabbat, it is considered non-allowed work to clean one's shoes. Hence one must take care that his shoes are clean before Shabbat. Since verse 7:2 is concerned about proper dress, the sages are also concerned that one's sandals be presentable at all times.

Spitting should be done into one's handkerchief, or away from others. For those of us who have been passengers on the subways in the 1950s and 1960s, we can remember folks spitting at their feet, (and ours). We can remember the "Do Not Spit" in the subway signs. The sages want us to have proper behaviors in public and certainly not do anything that could cause offense.

  
 
We discuss these middot, character traits, of getting along with others,  throughout the majority of chapters in  ''The  Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern  Jew'' ' (http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/ )  as well as in most chapters of ''A  Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud''  
  
What are your ideas about these adages of decorum?  How has learning Talmud's Derek Eretz helped you in your  interpersonal  relationships? How  has understanding the spiritual and ethical teachings of  Judaism helped you live a more joyous life? 
  
Next class, Baruch ha Shem, we will continue with Derek Eretz Zuta, Chapter Seven. Thank you for joining me.
 
For those who want a d'var Torah on Parasha Yitro   from '''A  Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and  Talmud'' please click on Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUALITY: PARASHA YITRO: TEN COMMANDMENTS; JETHRO  or http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2011/01/rabbi-arthur-segal-jewish-spirituality_1625.html

 

Shabbat Shalom:

Rabbi Arthur Segal_

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If visiting SC's Low Country, contact us for a Shabbat meal, in our home by the sea, our beth yam.

 

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