Wednesday, September 2, 2009

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:NUMBER FORTY USED IN THE TORAH+TALMUD:PATH OF TRANSFORMATION

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:NUMBER FORTY USED IN THE TORAH+TALMUD:PATH OF TRANSFORMATION
 
 THE NUMBER FORTY USED IN THE TORAH AND TALMUD FOR JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

The number forty has significance throughout the Torah, and the Talmud. This is an interesting  time to look at this because the period of time, now, between the first day of Elul until Yom Kippur is 40 days.  That takes us from ''owners of chet'', ( ba'al chet) to ba'al teshuvah, a radical change.

When a person becomes ritually impure, he goes to ritual bath, a Mikveh. According to the Talmud Bavli Tractate Eruvin  4b  and  the Yoma 31a , the Mikveh must be filled with forty measures of water. A person, must completely submerse himself in it. After being submersed, he leaves the Mikveh ritually pure.The amount of water in a mikveh   has to be 40 seah, (Numbers Rabbah, 18:17 ) . This is 144 eggs, or 145 liters,  in volume.   A Mikveh is used for conversions, transforming someone from a non-Jew into hopefully a spiritually renewed Jew.  In the story of Noah, the rain poured for 40 days, and covered the world with water. When the flood subsided, the world was transformed and purified.

According to Rabbi Judah Loew (16th century, Prague), the number 40 has the ''power to raise something's spiritual state. '' 40 measures of water purifies a person. 40 days of rain purified the world.  40 days of  Moses on Mt. Sinai purified the Hebrews from the mind set of being Egyptian slaves in a Spiritual Renewal nation. The second time Moses went up wason the first of Elul.  He came down 40 days later on the tenth of Tishrei which is Yom Kippur. These 40 days were for God's forgiving the Hebrews for the sin of the golden calf, and renewed their spirituality.

Moses tells the Jewish people that he had "led them 40 years in the wilderness," (Deut. 29:3-4) after he told them that "God has not given you a heart to know, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, until this day." It took the Hebrew people 40 years in B'Midbar, the wilderness, before they could understand the things that took place at Sinai. Accordingly, the Talmud in Pirkei Avot ( Ethics of Our Fathers) , "a man of forty attains understanding." (5:26) .

According to the Talmud, it takes 40 days for an embryo to be formed in its mother's womb. (Talmud Bavli Tractate Yevamoth 69b)

The number of Makot (lashes) that a person received for certain sins is 40 (40 minus 1 according to the Sages Talmud Bavli Tractate Makoth 22b). The lashes transformed a person from being guilty to innocent and thereby purified him of sin. And periods of life seem to be at 40, as in the case of Rabbi Ben Zakkai who lived 120 years: 40 in business, 40 in study and 40 in teaching. (Talmud Bavli Tractate Rosh Ha Shana 31b).

I am sure there are others but it is late and I need 40 winks in order to function in my 40 hour work week.

The Hebrews may have obtained the idea of the number 40 as a transformation number from the architecture of the Pyramids in Egypt or the Ziggurats in Babylon or both. One transformed the dead to the world here-after, the other transformed the living into gods. Both were build in a formula of 4 sides, in lengths of ten. As they moved upward, the lengths decreased, giving us the triangle  look on each of the 4 sides. The three sided triangle, done 4 times, becomes 7, a Holy number to Hebrews but a magical number to Egyptians and Babylonians.

Here is the heavy part: The first letter of the words that are associated with the ideas mentioned previously is the letter "mem," i.e. Mikveh, Matan Torah (giving of Torah), Makot (lashes), Midbar (desert), Mabul (flood), Moshe. The letter "Mem" in Hebrew has a numerical value of forty. We would not say this just chance.

Hence Forty becomes a number for Jewish Spiritual Renewal, www.jewishspiritualrenewal.org as well as Jewish Renewal, www.jewishrenewal.info and Jewish Spirituality, putting people of a Path of Transformation.

Shalom:

Rabbi Arthur Segal
Via Shamash Org on-line class service
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Eco Judaism
Hilton Head Island, SC, Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA


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 Rabbi Arthur Segal reveals the path to Jewish Spiritual Renewal - and happiness in  troubled  times...

Is Joy and Happiness
Still Possible in
Times Like These?

Joyous Jewish Musicians (Copyright Steve Greenberg*)

YES, it is possible. Even when the world seems to be turning upside-down, you can follow a simple, step-by-step process that will have you loving life every day no matter what is going on around you. It's no secret, but nobody's been talking about it for generations...until now.

In His New Book:

http://www.shop.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/
THE HANDBOOK TO JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:
A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew

Rabbi Dr. Arthur Segal brings Judaism back to its roots for the millions of modern Jews who have become disenchanted with "normative" Judaism.

In The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew, Segal reveals how Judaism leads you up the path to a happy, fulfilling life.

And he casts aside the long, boring sermons and tedious litany of rules and regulations in favor of plain English, humor, and life examples that we can all relate to.

          Click Here to Order
          $19.99
          254 Pages
          Published by Amazon's BookSurge
          ISBN: 1439223394

          "The Handbook To Jewish Spiritual Renewal by Rabbi Arthur Segal has given me the foundation to approach each day with honesty, reverence, hope and gratitude. I feel like I am having a personal conversation with a wise prophet with a jovial sense of humor." 

          Diane Weinberg,
          Washington, D.C.


          Shalom.

          My name is Rabbi Dr. Arthur Segal, and in my years of rabbinic counseling I've met an awful lot of fellow Jews who are short on faith that Judaism can deliver the happiness and joy that it promises, especially in these turbulant times.

          Their emotions run the gamut: sadness, loneliness, bitterness; fearfulness of what the future holds for them. Some are just downright cynical and angry.

          I've been there myself; stuck with a feeling of, "Is this all there is?"

          But I found the way out.

          That's why I became a rabbi after retiring from my dental practice; to help others up the path to a life of joy and freedom that I couldn't find in "normative" Judaism.

          I want to show you that path today.

          "You lead the spiritual practices of the entire program and offer our followers a unique spiritual opportunity." 

          Hune Margulies, Ph.D.
          Founder, Martin Buber Institute

          Reclaim Your Spirituality...And Your Life

          http://www.shop.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/main.sc
          Click to Order
          THE HANDBOOK TO JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:
          A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew

          Rabbi Dr. Arthur Segal distills millennia of sage advice into a step-by-step process to reclaim your Judaism and your spirituality in a concise easy-to-read and easy-to-follow manner.

          If you find yourself wishing for the strength to sustain you through the ups and downs of life; if you want to learn how to live life to its fullest without angst, worry, low self-esteem or fear; or if you wish that your relationships with family, friends and co-workers were based on love and service and free of ego, arguments, resentments and feelings of being unloved...this book is for you.

          Price: $19.99
          254 Pages
          Published by: Amazon's BookSurge

          In The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew, I distill teachings from our sages 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.

          And it is written in plain English with relevance to the modern world. I even threw in a few jokes to make it fun!

          This is stuff we were not taught in Hebrew school or in most synagogues, but it is what Judaism is really all about. 

          "Wonderful stuff! I'm savoring it, bit by bit." 

          Samuel Hughes, Senior Editor
          The Pennsylvania Gazette
          University of Pennsylvania

          In The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew, 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 is 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).

          • To actually get rid of your character flaws forever (Chapter 6).

          • How to turn negative relationships in your life positive (Chapter 7).

          • How simple it is to make prayer a regular part of your days...without going back to Hebrew school (Chapter 8).

          • How to 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).
          http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/images/Handbook_Covers.pdf
          Click Image
          to Enlarge
          THE HANDBOOK TO JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:
          A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew

          Price: $19.99
          254 Pages
          Published by: Amazon's BookSurge

          A Question for You

          Let me ask you a question: Are you enjoying life like the people in the cartoon at the top of this letter?

          Or, do you spend your days worrying about the economy...

          ...in conflict with friends, family, and co-workers...

          ...stressed out about the future?

          If the latter sounds like you I'm not surprised. As I said earlier, I counsel many fellow Jews who are in the same boat, and they look to their Jewish faith to find a happier life.

          However...

          Some have trouble understanding what they read in the Torah and how it relates to their own lives.

          Others find that their synagogues are more about social climbing and fundraising and less about spiritual awakening.

          Many simply give up, believing that Judaism has failed them, and they walk away from their Jewish faith. 

          In my book, The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern JewI will show you that true Judaism has not failed them...or you...and that you can return to your Jewish faith and enjoy your life to its fullest, even when the news of the day keeps going from bad to worse.

          "I couldn't have written the book or expressed my pain and concern for the Jewish people returning to Judaism. Thank God that He put this desire in your heart."

          Janelle Vechi
          California

          It's simpler than you may think, and you don't have to become a rabbi as I did.

          To give you an idea what I am talking about, here is an excerpt from The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew:

          We become so far removed from God, our loving Sovereign Parent, that when we pray, (if we pray at all), we pray to meet an immediate need. We desire an immediate fix, rather than to seek renewal (return) and the wisdom to work toward renewal. We are satisfied for a moment if our trivial need is met. We therefore never achieve happiness in the long term. We are constantly searching and striving for our secular notions of success and happiness. While in this all-too-common state our egos "lock horns" with the egos of others, putting us in a sustained state of human conflict and resentment.

           

          This is not the Jewish way to live; but most of us cannot find the way out. In this book, I will give a map to the tools of the process in simple terms and in language easily understood, to turn your life around to a much more pleasant state. If you follow the map faithfully and honestly, you will find that the journey is life-changing and life-affirming.

          "Nice Rabbi Segal! Thank you! Peace."

          Deepak Chopra's Intent.com

          What Would You Say Something Like This is Worth?

          Think about it…

          The teachings of the Torah and the Talmud all distilled into an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand, and easy-to-follow step-by-step process that will help you:

          • Overcome the challenges that life throws at you every day
          • Stop letting ego, resentment, and other conflict strain your relationships with family, friends, and co-workers
          • Get the angst and worry out of your life
          • Eliminate low self-esteem from your life
          • Overcome your fear of failure and other fears

          I know it sounds priceless and in reality…it is. But I sincerely want to share what has helped me and countless others with you.

          In other words, I want to show you the path to the happy and joyous life that your were meant to live. So I want you to have The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew for only $19.99.

          "The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal is an invaluable resource for anyone who is searching for more in their life. I was involved with organized Jewish religion, but something was always missing. Using this guide, and taking each chapter to heart, has transformed my views and put me on the track my life is supposed to be on,  filled with love, trust and emunah (faith). Thanks Rabbi Segal!"

          Ben Pincus
          Houston, TX

          Like I said, I've been where you are: in a life missing spirituality; seemingly unable to cope with life's difficulties; and unable to find peace and inner shalom. 

          But I found it and now I want to share with you the path that I have found and passed on to others with consistent success.

          It took me many years of work and study, and rabbinic ordination. But it didn't have to. And it doesn't have to for you. You can travel the same path that I did, but you can do it in only 254 pages!

          We are living in a historically turbulent time. Economic uncertainty, political corruption, threats of aggression, and religious conflict are everywhere. I know that I would find it difficult to find comfort without the peace and inner shalom that I have found through Jewish Spiritual Renewal.

          Please join me now.
          Start your journey UP the path of Jewish Spiritual Renewal so that it may bring the same joy, happiness, freedom and shalom that I now enjoy into your own life!

          http://www.shop.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/main.sc 

          Click Here to Order

          Many Blessings,
          Rabbi Dr. Arthur Segal

           

          P.S.  Another thing that I've noticed over the years in my Rabbinic Counseling is that many modern Jews are not as familiar with the Torah and the Talmud as they might be. 

          They find it difficult to understand and interpret in a way that makes sense and has relevance to their lives in the modern world. 

          This is quite often the root cause of the kind of spiritual disconnection that I described earlier.

          So, as a companion to The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew, I have also written:

          http://www.shop.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/main.sc
          Click to Order
          A SPIRITUAL AND ETHICAL COMPENDIUM
          TO THE TORAH AND TALMUD

          Rabbi Dr. Arthur Segal dissects each of the Torah's weekly sections (parashot) using the Talmud and other rabbinic texts to show the true Jewish take on what the Torah is trying to teach us. This companion to The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew brings the Torah alive with daily relevance to the Modern Jew.

          All of the Torah can be summed up in one word: Chesed. It means kindness. The Talmud teaches that the Torah is about loving our fellow man and that we are to go and study. The rest is commentary. This compendium clarifies the commentary and allows one to study Torah and Talmud to learn the Judaic ideals of love, forgiveness, kindness, mercy and peace. A must read for all Jews and deserves a place in every Jewish home.

          Price: $24.99
          494 Pages
          Published by: Amazon's BookSurge

          "Very informative and timely. It allows many people to benefit from Torah lessons, where many of them may not otherwise have an opportunity receive such content."

          Mauricio Benzipporah
          Founder, Beta-Gershom Organization

          A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud dissects each of the Torah's weekly sections (parashot) using the Talmud and other rabbinic texts to interpret its lessons.

          "Shalom. What a blessing your insights have given me. I am interested in reading more of your writings of Talmud. I find it difficult to find good Talmudic readings. Excellent work, Rabbi!"

          Rabbi Daniel Ben Shmuel

          A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud brings the Torah alive with daily relevance to the Modern Jew.

          All of Torah can be summed up in one word: Chesed. It means kindness. The Talmud teaches that the Torah is about loving our fellow man and that we are to ''go and study.'' The rest is commentary. 

          A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud clarifies the commentary and allows one to study the Torah and the Talmud to learn the Judaic ideals of love, forgiveness, kindness, mercy and peace. 

          It is a must read for those seeking Jewish Spiritual Renewal and is the ideal complement to The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew.

          Here is an excerpt from A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud:

          Since each parasha is the weekly Torah portion, you may read each of the chapters in the book during the course of a week while also reading the actual Torah portion. By doing so, you will learn a modern Jewish Spiritual view of each Torah portion. At the same time, your world will be open to the ethical teachings of the Talmud.

           

          While many read the Torah as a history book, or a deed to land, or see it as a boring book full of legalisms and ritual for a priesthood that no longer exists, this book aims to show you the spiritual ethical lessons in each parasha. In a sense this book will hopefully help you enjoy reading and understanding the Five Books of Moses, what we call Chumash from the Hebrew word for "five." You may even discover that you want to continue your study with the Talmud and other Jewish texts.

          "...most insightful (Torah) essay I could find was written by Rabbi Arthur Segal."

          Leslie Palma-Simoncek
          Staten Island Advance

          Complete your journey UP the path to Jewish Spiritual Renewal with a better understanding of the Torah's lessons through A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud for only $24.99...

          ...certainly a small amount to pay for the priceless wisdom contained within the Torah and the Talmud.

          You can purchase each book individually, but if you purchase them together as a set, I will donate a portion of the sales price in your name to a tzadakkah of your choice, such as your synagogue. Think of it as your first act of loving kindness in your spiritually renewed life!

           

          http://www.shop.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/main.sc 

          Click Here to Order

           


          http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/images/Handbook_Covers.pdf
          Click Image
          to Enlarge
          THE HANDBOOK TO JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:
          A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew

          Price: $19.99
          254 Pages
          Published by: Amazon's BookSurge


          http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/images/Compendium_Covers.pdf
          Click Image
          to Enlarge
          A SPIRITUAL AND ETHICAL COMPENDIUM
          TO THE TORAH AND TALMUD

          Price: $24.99
          494 Pages
          Published by: Amazon's BookSurge

           

          About Rabbi Dr. Arthur Segal

          Rabbi Dr. Arthur Segal's love of Judaism and his Ahavath Israel led him on his personal quest for Jewish Spiritual Renewal, beginning his studies after retirement from a successful oral medicine practice. Rabbi Segal graduated cum laude with BA and DMD degrees, Specialty, and Post-Doctoral studies in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in the 1970s. He is an author in these chosen fields as well.

          Rabbi Segal teaches classes on Jewish Spiritual Renewal and The Spiritual and Ethical Teachings of the Torah, TaNaK and Talmud via the Shamash online program. He teaches Torah, Talmud, and other great texts, such as Duties of the Heart by Ibn Pakudah of 1050 C.E. Spain, to adults in his hometown. Rabbi Dr. Segal does rabbinic counseling using the step-by-step process of Jewish Spiritual Renewal to help his fellow Jews achieve a spiritual life.

           

          http://www.shop.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/main.sc 

          Click Here to Order


          ©2009 Dr. Arthur Segal, P.A. d/b/a Rabbi Arthur Segal 

          Page header image is courtesy of Steve Greenberg (greenberg-art.com)