RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: ECO-JUDAISM : DEREK ERETZ: NINE TO GAN EDEN WHILE ALIVEJewish Spiritual Renewal: Derek Eretz Zuta + Rabbah:Shabbat 03/26/11(aka Derech Eretz )This class is dedicated to my beloved father, Albert Z. Segal, known in Israel as, Abraham Zachariah ben Pinchus ha Levi ha Rav, on his 86th birthday this Shabbat. Ad me'a ve-esrim ...May you live to be 120 years in gladness and health.It is also the 46 anniversary of my becoming a Bar Mitzvah at Adath Israel Synagogue, then of Trenton, NJ, now of Lawrenceville, NJ. Paraphrasing from the Haftarah for Shabbat Parah, I thank God with every strength of my body, heart, mind and soul for giving me '' a new heart and putting a new spirit into me: He removed the heart of stone from my body and gave me a heart of flesh; and He put His spirit into me. ''(Ez. 36: 26-27)The JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL class list is hosted by Shamash: The Jewish Network a service of Hebrew College/YeshivaShalom my dear Chaverim, Talmidim, v' Rabbanim, friends, students and fellow rabbis: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 http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2011/03/rabbi-arthur-segal-jewish-spiritual_7711.html or Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL; DEREK ERETZ: SEVEN COVENANTSFrom there you will find links to preceding classes in this series.So, together we continue:TALMUD BAVLITRACTATE DEREKERETZ ZUTA(aka Derech Eretz)CHAPTER I.Talmud Bavli Tractate Derek Eretz Zuta Verse 1:6OK. As I wrote in our last classes, before I show you the next verse from Talmud Bavli Tractate Derek Eretz Zuta Chapter One, which is verse 6 and the last verse of this chapter, let me advise you that it is a long one, and on first read can be a confusing one for those not intimately familiar with Jewish History, or the entire TaNaK, as well as Midrash.I will guide you through it and it will open up some exciting doors for you, hopefully not an "Exit Door.'' ;-) . As we have done in other long verses in this class, we will parse it sentence by sentence, or in some cases, by phrases or even words. This is the last verse in Chapter One and today we will finish this verse as well as Chapter One.''Love the Law, and respect it; love all creatures, and respect them.'' Subject your will to the will of others, as was done by Leah for Rachel and by David for Saul. But ignore your will, and even the will of others, for the will of Heaven, as we find by Jacob that he did not kiss Joseph (because he was engaged in prayer). Love doubtfulness (i.e., everything shall be doubtful to you until you convince yourself of it), and hate the expression: "And what of it?" (i.e., even of the most unimportant things you should not express yourself thus). Keep aloof from everything that may bring to sin, and from the abominable, and from what is equal to it, that you should not be suspected by others of transgression. Do not slander your neighbor, because he who does so has no remedy. Keep aloof from grumbling, for by grumbling you may come to growl at others, and it will be added to your transgressions. With seven patriarchs covenants were made, and they are: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Pinchas, and David. Seven patriarchs are resting in glory, and worm and maggot do not affect their earthly remains, and they are: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Amram their father, and, according to others, also David, as it is written [ibid. xvi. 9]: "Therefore is rejoiced my heart,and my spirit is glad; also my flesh shall rest in safety." Nine entered the Garden of Eden when they were still alive, and they are: Enoch (Chanoch) the son of Jared, Elijah Messiah, Eliezer the bondsman of Abraham, Hirom the king of Zor, Ebed-melech the Cushi [Jer. xxxviii. 7], and Jabetz the son of R. Jehudah the Prince, Bothiah the daughter of Pharaoh and Serech the daughter of Ascher, and, according to others, also R. Jehoshua b. Levi.''Let us work only with this last sentence today.To avoid making this last class extremely long, I will summarize the last part of the verse, but give you all the details, which are fascinating, in two essays I have written on this part of verse 6:1.NOTE: Since I will be out of the USA until Mid May, being invited to lead Seders, as well as Shabbatons, and teach Jewish Spiritual Renewal, I ask of you, to take your time with this class, and use the links provided so that you will truly learn some fascinating Jewish History as well as Midrash and Talmud.We noted with interest that of these 9, which gets expanded in the text to ten, and in the Midrash to 13, six of them were not Hebrew/Jewish. One of them was an African Eunuch, and two were women. Five were Hebrews. Two were Jews. Two were converts. Three were servants. Three were Ba'alim Teshuvah. They were Asians and Africans.This of course reminded us of Judaism's pluralistic view of other religions, and the Jewish concept in the Talmud Bavli Tractate Sanhedrin 105a, that ''the righteous of all nations, i.e. religions, have a share in the world to come.'' This of course is in direct opposition to religions which teach that their's is the only way for eternal salvation and entrance into heaven, while everyone else is going to hell. Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:RIGHTEOUS OF ALL NATIONS HAVE A SHARE IN THE WORLD TO COME .Enoch was the father of Methuselah. You can read the details of Enoch and all of the people in this sentence, in these two essays, Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: Nine entered Gan Eden while alive #1: Derek Eretz Zuta or http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2010/08/rabbi-arthur-segal-nine-entered-gan.htmlAND,What did Enoch do to merit his going to Paradise without dying? Enoch did righteousness, helping people do teshuvah, (spiritual renewal), and bringing about peace among people.Elijah whose name (El-i Yahu) means "Yah is my God," was a prophet in Israel in the 9th century BCE. He appears in the TaNaK,, Talmud, Mishnah and even in texts of other religions. According to the Books of Kings, Elijah raised the dead, brought fire down from the sky, and ascended into heaven in a whirlwind (either accompanied by a chariot and horses of flame or riding in it). In the Book of Malachi, Elijah's return is prophesied "before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord," making him a harbinger of the Messiah .In Judaism, Elijah's name is invoked at the weekly Havdalah ritual that marks the end of Shabbat, and Elijah is invoked in other Jewish customs, among them the Passover seder and the Brit milah (ritual circumcision). He appears in numerous stories and references in the Haggadah and rabbinic literature, including the Babylonian Talmud.So what were Elijah's merits to enable him to cheat death and go to Paradise alive? He was a proponent of God, and of God's justice. He is to be the harbinger of the Messiah. He fought against injustice.Eliezer, the '' Servant of Abraham.'' mentioned by name only in Gen. xv. 2.Jabetz the son of R. Jehudah the Prince; There is no Talmudic reference to a son of Rabbi Judah Ha Nasi, Rabbi Yehudah the Prince, named Jabetz or Jabez. This is probably an error which happens a lot with names in oral transmission. It should be Jabez the Yahudahite.Jabez was prominent, particularly after the Exile, among those Kenite clans that embraced Judaism, becoming scribes and teachers of the Law. Rabbinical tradition identifies Jabez with Othniel the Kenezite, the head of the bet ha-midrash after the death of Moses (Talmud Bavli Tractate Temurah 16a ).So what was Jabez merit? He was a righteous convert. His ancestor was Moses' father -in-law Yitro. He was a Kenite that joined the tribe of Judah. And like many converts, he was more spiritual than those born Hebrew or Jewish. He taught Torah, and was a scribe of Torah. And he had faith in God. He is only mentioned in two verses of the entire TaNaK, yet his faith and his deeds of teaching, gave him the privilege to see Paradise while still alive. He was honorable and honest.Bothiah {Bithiah} the daughter of Pharaoh :(I Chron. 4; 17- 18) '' The sons of Ezrah were Jether, Mered, Epher and Jalon. (And these are the sons of Bithia the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took) and she conceived and bore Miriam, Shammai and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa. (His Judean wife gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.) These were the children of Pharaoh's daughter Bithiah, whom Mered had married.''She saved Moses from his floating basket in the Nile and raised him. She gave up her father, the Pharaoh's ways, and converted to Hebraism.She was so privileged because she cared for Moses (i.e., rescued him and raised him) [Midrash Eshet Chayil -- Woman of Valor-- 31:15) . Another exegetical tradition has God saying: "Since this one brought salvation to Israel and brought them forth to life, I shall prolong her life. I shall reward this one, who left her father's royal house and adhered to Israel" [Midrash Kallah Rabbati 3:23] . This Midrash attributes the salvation of all Israel to the daughter of Pharaoh, because she saved Moses from death, and thereby facilitated the redemption of Israel from Egypt by means of their leader Moses.So what was Bithia's merit to enter Paradise without dying? She showed the ultimate in ahavath chesed, loving kindness. She saved a child and adopted it and raised him. That this child, Moses, would grow to become the leader and law giver of Israel, was not truly known to her. Further, she put life, pekuah nefesh, over the royal decree of her father, the Pharaoh.Serah, the daughter of Asher, as mentioned in Talmud Bavli Tractate Soṭah 13a and in the Chumash. Asher was one of the 12 sons of Jacob. Hence Serah was Jacob's granddaughter.Serah daughter of Asher is mentioned in the Bible in the count of the Israelites who went down to Egypt (Gen. 46:17) and in the enumeration of the Israelites at the steppes of Moab (Num. 26:46). Aside from this, she takes no part in any narrative, nor is anything said about her.In contrast, there are a plethora of Midrashic traditions about this woman and thus the faceless Biblical character becomes a fascinating personality. Her history is intertwined with the story of the migration to Egypt and enslavement, and also with redemption and the return to Eretz Israel. She lived to an extremely old age and accordingly was blessed with much earthly wisdom and knowledge, which she used to help the people of Israel as needed, even during the time of the Rabbis.In the Midrashic account, Serah helped Moses to fulfill the oath sworn to Joseph, to carry up his bones. When the Israelites were ready to leave Egypt they were occupied in taking booty, and Moses was the only one who was engaged with Joseph's bones. He searched for his coffin in all the land of Egypt, but could not locate it. Serah was the only one of that generation still alive.Moses went to her and asked: "Do you know where Joseph is buried?" She answered: "They placed him here. The Egyptians made for him a metal coffin and sunk it in the Nile, so that its waters would be blessed." Moses then went to the Nile, stood on the bank and shouted: "Joseph, Joseph, the time has come for the oath that God swore to our father Abraham, that He will redeem His children. Give honor to the Lord, the God of Israel, and do not delay your redemption, because we are delayed on your account. If you show yourself, it will be well; and if not, then we are free from your oath , if you will not raise your coffin, we will go forth from Egypt and leave you here."Joseph's coffin immediately rose to the surface and Moses took it (Talmud Bavli Tractate Sotah 13a). This led the Rabbis to state that Serah delivered "the faithful one to the faithful one," since she gave Joseph over to Moses when they departed from Egypt ( Midrash Genesis Rabbah 94:9)According to the Rabbis, not only was Serah among those who came to Egypt and one of those who left it, she also entered Eretz Israel; they use as a proof text for the latter claim Num. 26:46, that includes Serah among the names of those entering the land (Seder Olam Rabbah 9) .What are Serah's merits to deserve to see Paradise without dying? She had extreme ahavath chesed. And her actions helped bring Jacob to Egypt, helps Moses find Joseph's bones, and keeps the Exodus on track. She had faith and taught of God's redemption and saved many lives.Rabbi Joshua ben Levi is the hero of nearly all the paradise legends. He often met Elijah before the gates of paradise (Talmud Bavli Tractate Sanhedrin 98a) and he obtained permission from the angel of death to visit paradise before his death and to inspect his assigned place. He reported the result of his investigation to Rabban Gamaliel (Seder ha-Dorot). The original accounts are in the Zohar, which contains all the elements in fragmentary documents (Zohar Beresheit, 38a-39b, 41a, and Zohar Leka 81a, b). One of these accounts is credited to Enoch. Midrash Konen is probably the first compilation and elaboration of these fragments.Rabbi Joshua ben Levi was a favorite hero in legend. He was often made to be the companion of Elijah in the latter's wanderings on earth. (Midrash Pesikta 36a.) He also had legendary dealings with the Angel of Death. ( Talmud Bavli Beracoth 51a.) While yet alive, he was permitted to visit paradise and the nether world, and he sent a description of what he saw there to Rabban Gamaliel through the submissive Angel of Death. (Derek Eretz Zuta 1.) Many of the legends relating to Joshua have been collected in separate small works entitled "Ma'aseh de-Rabbi Yehoshua' ben Lewi" and "Masseket Gan Eden we-Gehinnom."So what was the merit of Rabbi Joshua ben Levi to deserve being allowed to see Paradise while alive? His rulings always had to do with chesed, loving- kindness. At a time when many rabbis wanted to curse Jews who were belonging to the sect of Rabbi Yeshua ben Yosef, (now called Christians), he taught of getting along with them. His comment of Jewish pluralism of the righteous of all nations have a share in the world to come, contrasted with other religions 'admission process' to heaven, was pure love.Messiah :This class is long enough to write about the Jewish Messiah. Anyone that can bring peace among Jews, and among everyone in the earth, has more than enough chesed to earn himself a place in Paradise without dying.Three sons of Korach (not mentioned in Derek Eretz Zuta, but in the Midrash Kallah Rabbati 3:23 ); While counting the tribe of Reuben, mention is made of Datan and Abiram who were leaders in Korach's rebellious assembly. The Torah retells the story of the earth swallowing Korach, Datan, Abiram, as well as the 250 men who joined them. Scripture then states in Numbers 26:11: "Oo'v'nay Korach lo may'too," but the sons of Korach did not die.Talmud Bavli Tractate Sanhedrin 110a; Rabbah bar bar Chanah tells the following story: I was one walking on the road, and an Arab merchant told me, "Come, and I will show you the site of the swallowing of Korach's sons." He then went and showed two cracks in the ground which smoked. He took a ball of wool shearings, soaked it in water, put it on the head of a spear, and passed the spear over the cracks, and the wool was singed. Then the Arab told him to listen, and he heard, "Moses and his Torah are true, and we are liars."
So what were the three sons of Korach's merits to not die? While they joined with their father in the biggest rebellion known to Hebrew history, of Hebrew versus Hebrew, they realized they were wrong. They broke away and did teshuvah, amends.
Rechab's son Jonadab (not mentioned in Derek Eretz Zuta, but in the Midrash Kallah Rabbati 3:23 ): Kenites came under the rulership of Rechab, who so greatly influenced the clan in the cause of truth, that they came to be called Rechabites.( 1 Chron. 2:55). They were known for their scribal activities. 1 Chron. 2:55. This pursuit of truth was perpetuated by Rechab's son, Jonadab.( Jer. 35:6). In 892 BCE, the year that Jehu ascended the throne of Israel, it was Jonadab who helped cleanse the land of idol worship. (2 Kings 10:15-28). At the time of Nebuchadnezzar's invasion of Judah in 606 BC, the Rechabites moved to Jerusalem and lived there until its destruction in 586 BC. (Jer. 35:11). As a result of their faithfulness, they were promised a share in the temple service for the rest of their days. (Jer. 35:18-19).
So what did the sons of Rechab do to merit to see Paradise while still alive? They followed their father's teachings. They were humble and sober. They were loyal converts who became scribes, and teachers, and were faithful to God.The slave of Judah ha Nasi (really the slave of Rabbam Gameliel II, ha Nasi) (not mentioned in Derek Eretz Zuta, but in the Midrash Kallah Rabbati 3:23 ):This slave, whose name was Tavi, was the slave of Rabbi Gamaliel II ha Nasi. He was the first to lead the Jews, as Nasi, after the fall of the Temple by the Romans in 70 CE. he became Nasi in 80 CE. The text has confused between him and Judah ha Nasi, of circa 200 CE.In Talmud Bavli Tractate Beracoth 16b, we read in the Mishna portion of how Rabban Gamaliel II [2nd Century CE], seemed to have contravened a halachic ruling and his students query him on this.''When Rabban Gamaliel's slave Tavi (aka Tabi, Aramaic for 'good') died, Rabban Gamaliel accepted condolences for him. (As was the custom, Gamaliel stood and his friends walked by him giving him words of condolences). His students said to him:"You, our teacher, have taught us that one may not accept condolences for the loss of a Canaanite slave. Why have you done so?'' Rabban Gamaliel answered:'' My slave Tavi is not like all of the other Canaanite slaves for he is a worthy individual.''Hopefully, you will read the full account of Tavi in the links for the essays above. Tavi, a non-Jewish slave, was a better Jew and a wiser one, than many of the Talmudic rabbis of his time. This was his merit.So what have we learned from these 13 groups and/or individuals that were allowed to go to Paradise, Olam ha Ba, the Garden of Eden, ha Gan Eden? They were Hebrews and Jews and non-Hebrews and non-Jews. They were men and women. They were of high stature in society and of low stature. They were rich and they were poor. They were Asian and they were African. Some were converts.What they had in common is righteousness, helping others come to spirituality, peace-making, fighting for the common person, loyalty, got along with others, they did teshuvah when wrong, humility, they went beyond the letter of the law, and they had extreme ahavath chesed, loving kindness.As the Talmud teaches, the righteous of all nations, all religions, have a share in the world to come. Judaism is pluralistic. We are taught the God gave Moses the path for the Hebrews to God, but the God gave an equal prophet to all the other nations, religions, with a different but equal path to the Divine.( Talmud Bavli Tractate Sanhedrin 105a).This is the lesson of this last section of verse 6:1 in Derek Eretz Zuta Chapter One, a book, along with Derek Eretz Rabbah, teaches us how to live day by day, with our fellow humans on this spinning blue marble we call Earth.Next week, Baruch ha Shem, we will begin chapter two of of Derek Eretz Zuta.We discuss the aspects of this verse of loving kindness and altruism, 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 do not see people's skin color, or origins, but only the content of their character? How has learning that Judaism is pluralistic and that God is not playing favorites helped you in getting along with others? How has understanding the spiritual and ethical teachings of Judaism and helped you live a happier life?
Next class, Baruch ha Shem, we will continue with Derek Eretz Zuta, continuing with the start of Chapter Two. Thank you for joining me.
As mentioned above, this next class will not be until mid May, 2011.Have a Happy Passover!!
For those who want a d'var Torah on Parasha Shemini from A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud or http://www.jewishspiritualrenewal.net/index.html#Compendium2 please click on: Rabbi Arthur Segal: RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL:JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL:JEWISH RENEWAL:SHEMINI:BE HOLY or http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com/2009/04/rabbi-arthur-segaljewish-spiritual_10.html
Shalom:
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^ "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (Genesis 5:24).
Elijah the prophet >
Ebed Melech ^ ///
Eliezar, the servant of Abraham, and Rebecca, at the well... V
Sunday, March 20, 2011
RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: ECO-JUDAISM :DEREK ERETZ: NINE TO GAN EDEN WHILE ALIVE
