Shalom: This year we are learning a bit about Judaism's famous Talmudic rabbis and the universal lessons that they taught. Another of these is Rabbi Simeon [Shimon] bar Yochai, 2nd-century CE , Judea, author of the Zohar, the chief work of Kabbalah.
According to the Talmud Shabbat 33b, Shimon criticized Roman rule. Sentenced to death, he hid with his son for thirteen years in a cave. A carob tree grew. A freshwater spring gushed forth. Keeping their clothes from wearing out, they embedded themselves in sand to their necks, naked, studying Torah. Shimon and his son left the cave when they heard the Roman emperor had died and the death sentenced abolished.
Leaving the cave, Simeon observed people occupied with farming, neglecting Torah study. He became angered, and killed them by staring at them. God ordered him back to the cave, for another year, to learn how to live in the real world.
Shimon taught "So great is the power of repentance that a man who has been during his lifetime very wicked, if he repents toward the end, becomes a perfectly righteous man" (Talmud Kiddushin 40b). He taught that haughtiness, and ego, are like idolatry (Talmud Soṭah 4b).
"One should rather throw himself into a burning furnace than shame a neighbor in public" (Talmud Berachot 43b). He denounced usury and deceit in business. [Talmud Bava Metzia 58b]. Simeon became not only learned, but a kind and understanding Rabbi.
Shimon taught: There were people in a boat. One drilled a hole beneath himself. They yelled: '' Why are you doing this?'' He replied: ''It's not your concern! I am drilling under myself!''They replied: ''You will sink the boat for us all!'' (Midrash Rabbah Leviticus 4:6). Shimon believed in community unity. If one of us suffers, we all suffer. If one lives a sinful life, it affects all. It is a Kabbalistic precept.
This teaching of dealing with terror, is still used today. ''A company of men is confronted by thugs. They say: Give us one ,whom we'll kill; if you don't, we'll kill you all. Even though all will be killed, don't deliver a single soul into the thugs' hands.'' (Talmud Terumot 7:23).
Rabbi Shimon taught of the infinite value of every person. No group or individual is worth more than another group or individual. We are all in the same boat, needing to row harmoniously together.
Rabbi Arthur Segal is an international lecturer, author, and teacher. Visit him at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org . Email at RabbiASegal@aol.com , and www.FaceBook.com/RabbiArthurSegalJewishSpiritualRenewal
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA
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 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.
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA
RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: SAVANNAH JEWISH WEDDINGS: HISTORIC SQUARES, INNS
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 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.
Jewish Spiritual Renewal
Jewish Renewal
Jewish Spirituality
Hilton Head Island, SC; Bluffton, SC; Savannah, GA
