Thursday, November 3, 2016

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: SIMCHAT TORAH: NEVER STOP STUDYING

RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: SIMCHAT TORAH: NEVER STOP STUDYING

NOVEMBER 2016 BLUFFTON SUN/ HILTON HEAD SUN/ RABBI DR ARTHUR SEGAL

GOD'S INFLUENCE IN OUR LIVES IS NEVER ENDING

Shalom and greetings:

In our tour through the Jewish calendar this year, November has no holiday, but as promised, I will discuss Sukkot, which came at the end of October {10/16-24} and Simchat Torah [10/25].

Sukkot is Hebrew for ''booths''. We are asked by God to live in them for a week.  During the fall harvest festival, Hebrews had to live in booths by the fields they were harvesting. It reminds us of the 40 years in the wilderness 'camping' and wandering.  While walls can vary in size and material, the Talmud teaches all roofs are made of the same materials, (e.g. palm fronds), for everyone, rich or poor, so that we can see the stars at night through them.  We are spiritually taught that if we believe we have control, or have "made it," by living in 'secure' homes in gated communities, we are delusional. Sukkot teaches that we are in God's hands and are part of His nature and His universe.  It is spiritual reminder that we can live without material excess as God provides us with what we need. Rich or poor, we can live in a hut for a week and enjoy it!

During Sukkot we spiritually invite 8 guests [Ushpizin], one each night. Each represents a different good character trait. We grow spiritually by studying these traits. We invite human guests as well.

Simchat Torah {Celebrate Torah} is the holiday following Sukkot.  We read the last portion of Deuteronomy and immediately begin Genesis. Spiritually we learn we are never finished studying Torah, and that God's influence in our lives is never- ending.

Children are given their first lessons on this day. A bit of honey is placed on the texts for them to bring to their mouths. This is symbolically teaching them that the words of Torah and study will bring sweetness into their lives. "Mortal, feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll…and I ate it and it tasted as sweet as honey to me." (Ezekiel 3:3). This can also be done at Shavuot. However, with  secular and religious school years, coinciding with Simchat Torah in autumn, and because both holidays are about Torah, this custom is commonly done for both holidays.

Rabbi Arthur Segal is an international lecturer, author, and teacher. Visit him at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org   . Email at RabbiASegal@aol.com   . 

RABBI DR ARTHUR SEGAL
 www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.com/books www.FaceBook.com/Arthur.L.Segal www.FaceBook.com/RabbiArthurSegalJewishSpiritualRenewal www.RabbiArthurSegal.blogspot.com
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA

JEWISH WEDDINGS

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JEWISH WEDDINGS OFFICIATED BY RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: TRADITIONAL, INTERFAITH, CO-OFFICIANT, DESTINATION

"One of the Joys of being a Rabbi," says Rabbi Arthur Segal," is working closely with the bride and groom and officiating at their wedding." He can do this with couples living near by or with couples having a destination wedding in the greater beautiful Hilton Head Island area.

Rabbi Arthur Segal helps develop a custom ceremony with the couple so that each word in the ceremony rings true to them. His ceremonies can range from the very traditional to what ever the couples desires. Rabbi opines that this is the couple's special day, and to treat each wedding as unique.

For those who are having an interfaith wedding, Rabbi takes special care to respect both traditions, again with total input from the couple. He will be pleased to co-officiate at weddings, using non-Trinitarian language.

Rabbi Arthur Segal also will do recommitment marriage ceremonies with the same care as he does weddings.

Rabbi will work closely with the wedding planer and/or caterer to make sure the wedding is seamless, and the bride and groom can totally enjoy themselves on their special day.

Rabbi Arthur Segal is available, and actually prefers, to be at the rehearsal, to ensure all is going smoothly, and to get to know the bridal party, and family, before the actual wedding day.

For those that wish to have a Ketubah, rabbi will work closely to make sure everyone's name has correct calligraphy on the document, in English and Hebrew, so the signing ceremony is flawless.

For a beautiful gallery of Ketubahs go to JudaicConnection.com  (My couples receive a $15 shipping discount)

Rabbi Arthur Segal tries to limit his weddings to Hilton Head, SC, Bluffton, SC, Palmetto Bluff, SC, Savannah, GA, and Charleston, SC, but has been known to make himself available elsewhere, even out of the USA. He will also conduct weddings and recommitment ceremonies on cruise ships.

In keeping with Jewish ethics, if the couple resides in Rabbi Arthur Segal's town, Rabbi will ask, unless there are some special circumstances, if the couple has first asked the local pulpit rabbi to officiate.

RABBI DR ARTHUR SEGAL www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.com/books www.FaceBook.com/Arthur.L.Segal www.FaceBook.com/RabbiArthurSegalJewishSpiritualRenewal www.RabbiArthurSegal.blogspot.com
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA