Jewish Spiritual Renewal: New Class: Fun/Light: Perek Shira: Shabbat 2/2/13 perek shira: song of nature Shalom my dear Chaverim, Talmidim, v' Rabbanim, friends, students, and fellow rabbis. An oneg, joy-filled, Shabbat this coming weekend to all. For this series, we are studying Perek Shira. It will be fun and light and short for those that wish it to be, as well as deep and involved from those who like to delve into our traditions texts. Perek Shira is 6 chapters long with verses of various heavenly and earthly bodies, plants and creatures singing praises to God. If you would like, consider the phrase the entity is singing, and ascribe to it what the entity is trying to teach us... about what traits to mirror and what traits to avoid. More on the text is found in the first class. "The VEGETABLES of the Field are singing: "You water its furrows abundantly; You settle its ridges; You make it soft with showers; You bless it growth.' (Ps. 65:11)[Perek Shira 3:10, Nature's Song] What attributes of VEGETABLES would you like to see new born Asher Ezra ben Seth v' Sarah, all children, and ourselves acquire? Hint: Some vegetables can be consumed raw, some may be eaten cooked, and some must be cooked in order to be edible. A few vegetables are often used in desserts and other sweet dishes. They come in all shapes and colors and each have different parts that are eaten, or not. We will eat the flowers, buds, stems, leaves, roots, seeds and bulbs of some, but not of others. What analogy can one make between vegetables and the human population? Machane Yahuda Shuk, Jerusalem
These middot, character traits, of living in shalom, and becoming spiritually connected are discussed throughout all of my books. Find the one or more that you would like at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org/books. How has learning Perek Shira helped you in your interpersonal relationships? Are you learning to live in shalom and be in shlema? 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 Perek Shira. If you would like a D'Var Torah from Parasha YITRO from '''A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud'' please click on Thank you for joining me. Shalom uvracha,
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! © 2012 Rabbi Arthur Segal Jewish Spiritual Renewal | | | | | | | | | |