by Rabbi Shlomo Segal
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.
A version of this week’s d’var Torah by Rabbi Segal’s was published by the Jewish week. To listen to the podcast of this d’var Torah please find it in the Segal’s Sentiments archive here.
This week’s portion, Tzav, has the same Hebrew root as “mitzvah.” While many Jews understand the word mitzvah as a “good deed,” the word actually means “commandment.”
… last year, in a physical therapy program, my exercise coach taught me a very significant phrase: “no pain, no gain.” If I would have selected only those exercises which I found convenient, I would not have gained much. It was the exercises that were rigorous and difficult that actually helped me to achieve my goals. The same idea can easily be applied to achieving our highest spiritual potential as well. All good things require a certain degree of exertion.
Read more at https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/the-internal-eternal-light/.
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Rabbi Shlomo Segal is a member of the UTJ’s Panel of Halakhic Inquiry, which issues religious responses on behalf of the organization on contemporary issues, and vice president of Morashah, the rabbinic arm of UTJ.
Rabbi Segal is also a member of the International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF) and the New York Board of Rabbis.
In fall 2013, after a decade of pulpit experience, Rabbi Segal founded Kehilat Moshe, a liberal Orthodox congregation in the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn, NY. While still a new congregation, Kehilat Moshe has emerged as a diverse, multi-generational caring and intellectually stimulating community rooted in both pluralism and halakhah.
Rabbi Segal delivers a weekly commentary which you can find at kehilatmoshe.org and on YouTube. He was also interviewed on National Public Radio on the subject of “Swinging Chicken Ritual Divides Orthodox Jews”.