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Today we continue with a bit more of Jewish Ethics (Derek Eretz) from the Talmud.
'' Let all thy ways be for the sake of Heaven. Love Heaven, and fear it. Tremble at, and at the same time rejoice over all commandments. Sit before the elders, and let thy ears be attentive to their words.'' (2:1)
Let us start by taking these words translated from Aramaic, into an easily read statement. I invite you to try this: ''Live a life that is good and just. Love what is good and just and pursue it. Love and be in awe of ethical teachings. Study our 2500 + years of rabbinic ethical teachings and follow them.''
When we parse this we see that we are being taught to negate the will of our ego and to do always listen to that ''still small voice'' telling us to do what is right and just.
We are to love and appreciate goodness and justice, and understand that by living a life like this, we become spiritually attached to the Divine. When we do "God's will,'' we are much less apt to step on the toes of others. When we do not toe step, we then become less apt to come into conflict with others.
Some people are enemy centered. If they are not fighting with someone or some organization, they are not happy. Derek Eretz teaches us to let gossip, even slander, not to stick to us. We lose that skin of Velcro and develop one of Teflon. We do not respond. These spiritually ill folk will find someone else soon enough to attempt to molest.
As I was taught long ago on this spiritual rabbinic path: ''Moses and even God couldn't please everyone, and neither will you.'' And the Yiddish expression of "If God lived on earth, people would throw rocks through His window," implies the same.
So we are to pursue what is good and just. While there is a part of Judaism that teaches we must seek out injustice and help correct it, with Derek Eretz, concerned about our relations with others, we are being taught to root out our OWN character defects that lead us away from being good, just and full of ahavath chesed (loving kindness). We do this with a process of Jewish Spiritual Renewal, teshuvah, by starting with an inventory of our soul, called a Chesbon ha Nefesh.
We take stock of our lives and realize that how society is showing us how to behave, (e.g.: Two and a Half Men, Housewives of Various Cities, and "Entertainment News''), is not what works well for us. Hence we learn to appreciate the sage advice that is universal and timeless. By studying a tractate of Talmud such as Derek Eretz, literally ''walking the land,'' but meaning how we get along with others, we are doing such and our lives become spiritually richer, connected, and full of joy and freedom.
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
Via Shamash Org on-line class service
Jewish Renewal www.jewishrenewal.info
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Eco Judaism
Hilton Head Island, SC, Bluffton, SC, Savannah, GA
