Questions tagged [mussar-ethics]
Questions relating to how a Jewish life should be led.
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Musar Study - recommendations
In our weekly chavrusa on Musar, we (retired baalei batim) have covered over several years:
Michtav MeiEliyohu, Sifsei Chaim, Alei Shur and we are about to conclude Orchos Chaim.
We would welcome ...
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Source of a Rabbi Salanter story
This article gives several stories about Rav Salanter, in section V of the article.
There’s no citation but many of them are drawn from T’nuat ha-Mussar by Rav Katz.
However, I can't find a source for ...
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Looking for mussar on not thinking oneself wise
Shalom.
Mishlei makes clear that one should not think oneself wise and that it is very dangerous to do so.
From what I can see (from Mishlei 26:16), diligence is one way - the only way? - of ...
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Does Judaism value selflessness?
Does Judaism value selflessness?
In particular,
Rambam in Shemoneh Perakim lists יתרון טוב הלבב as an extreme/negative character trait, and he defines this as someone who is giving to others at their ...
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What about Hashem are we emulating by battling our yeitzer hara?
Derech Hashem and mussar state that Divine service is emulating Hashem, becoming His partner, and similar to Him so we can attach to Him.
Ramchal states that we should come to earn and therefore own ...
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וכבשוה ורדו - to what extent are we allowed to domesticate/kill animals in order to utilise the Earth for our civilisation?
Part of the point of Hashem giving the Earth into our domain is a permission for us to trap, subjugate and kill animals that would harm us or be pests for our crops and homes, e.g. see Sforno 1 & ...
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Online edition of Kuntres Tiferes Dovid
In the recently published sefer, Bircas HaTorah, Bringing Torah To Life And Life To Torah by Rabbi Nissim Tagger, a Kuntres is cited. It seems to be a Kuntres by Rabbi Dovid Leibowitz ztz"l, a ...
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Shar habechinah honoring parents
I saw something in shar habechinah from the chovos halevavos that he writes that people wouldnt honor theyre parents if not for shame, wondering why do people need shame to honor parents? And just in ...
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Does anyone know where to find the Sefer toras Avraham by Reb avraham grodzenski?
If anyone knows where this Sefer,and other slabodka mussar seforim can be found. Or if anyone has them and is interested in selling them please call 929-842-8008 and leave a voicemail
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Question about degrees of honesty
I have been reflecting on some things I have done, and have begun to wonder whether my 'honest' words were simply a (subconsciously) clever way of gaining a person's trust, and thus of gaining power.
...
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Where can I find the Ramban's Letter in PDF?
I am looking to download or print a PDF of the Igeret HaRamban in the original Hebrew, to be able to view/read conveniently. Does anyone know where I can find this?
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The Gemara (Sukkah 25b) mentions "taking your mind off your worries." Do any commentators elaborate on exactly how to do that?
The Gemara (Sukkah 25b) mentions that an avel (mourner) is obligated in the mitzvah of Sukkah. One might have thought that since someone who is mitzta'er (in pain) is exempt from the mitzvah, that an ...
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Is it better to learn one mussar Sefer at a time or a few?
Would it be advisable to learn Mesillas Yesharim, Shaarei Teshuvah, Tomer Devorah and Chovas Halevavos etc. every day?
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Maayan HaMitgaber in Alei Shur (Rabbi Wolbe)
Maayan HaMitgaber in Alei Shur (Rabbi Wolbe) -- very strong concept, but I cannot locate the first mention in R Wolbe's Volume 1.
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Looking for a Mussar Sefer broken into short daily teachings
Looking for a recommendation on a mussar Sefer that has daily teachings, sort of like how the Chofetz Chaim Sefer was broken down into one page a day.
Not any specific type of mussar, but something ...
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What can Torah teach us about if voting makes u responsible for the actions of the elected, or system?What does voting affect in the spiritual worlds?
If a nation has a national election with only so to speak "bad" candidates, what teachings from Tanakh, Talmud, Jewish law or Jewish ethics in general, and the mystical teachings of the ...
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Is being on welfare if you can work against the will of Hashem?
Genesis 3:17
And to man He said, "Because you listened to your wife, and you ate
from the tree from which I commanded you saying, 'You shall not eat
of it,' cursed be the ground for your sake; ...
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Is it appropriate for me as a landlord to make gifts to the minor children of my tenant if I believe it will make them happy or more successful? [closed]
I am landlord for a lady and her three minor children who rent a house I own next door to my residence. One of her children is a talented athlete who is on a local community football team. Since the ...
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What does Ramchal refer to, when he says to know “principles”?
In his introduction to Derech HaShem, Ramchal mentions the importance of organized and systematic thinking by breaking things down into general principles.
He then details how he broke this Sefer down ...
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Why in the braisa of Pinches ben Yair is piety or humility called "greater than" the other levels that are listed?
In the braisa of Pinchas ben Yair it goes through a number of levels and ends with techiyas hamesim, then says חסידות גדולה מכולן שנאמר (תהלים פט, כ) אז דברת בחזון לחסידיך, and then another opinion ...
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Is it sinful to learn Torah and apply learnings to one’s business and worldly matters instead of for hasidut/holiness?
I’m learning Messilat Yesharim and found that, at least on a pshat level, it can be understood as a self-help book for achieving one’s goals regardless if those goals align with Ramchal’s profound ...
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Is there a master list(s) of Middot?
I am looking to find a master list of Middot. I suspect different texts have different lists: ie Cheshbon Ha Nefesh has one list and maybe other sefarim have other lists. At this stage of my research ...
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Looking for mussar on overcoming recklessness
Shalom.
I have a terrible habit of behaving recklessly. I was wondering if anyone had any good mussar - from personal experience or from sources - that would help one overcome this bad character trait....
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Mesillas Yesharim in One Chart?
Years ago, I saw a printed chart hanging in a shul titled "Mesillas Yesharim in One Chart," or something very similar. I have been searching online for this but cannot find anywhere. Is ...
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Hi , what should a man do if he impregnates a woman before wedlock ? should he marry her or opt for co-parenting? [closed]
Lets say the child is already born , you are both not married, you are friends , you used to date but you had broken up. What should these two do ?
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Learning Alei Shur Part I or II first?
Naturally, I would think to learn part I of Alei Shur first, but having read a few (ableit brief) online summaries, it almost seems like perhaps Part II is more relevant to someone who is not ...
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English translation of Alei Shur (Rabbi Wolbe)
I was wondering if anyone knows of an English translation of Alei Shur by Rabbi Wolbe? I have yet to find one.
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What is good mussar one should learn daily?
The MB (1:12) writes:
" וצריך האדם לקבוע לו עת ללמוד ספרי מוסר בכל יום ויום, אם מעט ואם הרבה, כי הגדול מחבירו יצרו גדול הימנו."
Translation: one should learn mussar each and every day.
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Importance of coming on time for davening
I'm looking for sources/inspiration about the importance of coming on time for davening. Not about being in the first ten, but just being there on time time. The more the better. Any help would be ...
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Source for the statement that there's a message in everything a Jew sees or hears?
I heard or read once that, according to Hasidic masters, there was a message one should learn from in everything a Jew sees or hears in a given day. I often think of it when faced with unusual ...
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When one is diagnosed with a terminal disease, is refusing treatment a form of suicide or acceptable considering the circumstances?
People are diagnosed with terminal illnesses on a regular basis. Many times a person refuses to undergo treatment because they don't wish to experience the pain and exhaustion that would entail.
While ...
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Is it a mitzvah to refine one's character? [duplicate]
We take it as a given that it's important to refine our character because we'll be a blessing to the people around us, commit fewer transgressions and perform more mitzvos. But do we have a source for ...
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Vaccines using aborted fetal cells
A friend of mine informed me that a few coronavirus vaccines might have used aborted fetal cells during development and/or production. What I have found by so far is that these cells were grown in ...
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Can I edit my photo on a social media post to look better?
Could I edit my photo on a social media post to look better by applying filters to it, or would this be Gneivat Da'at?
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Is improving one's middot a mitzvah?
Is having good middot, such as being mevater, a mitzvah? By that I mean: Is there a Biblical commandment to improve one's middot?
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Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz source of quote
Woe to a man who is unaware of his faults, he is not attentive to what
needs repair.
But double woe to he who is unaware of his virtues, he is unskilled
in the tools of the trade!”
Where is this ...
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How has our attitude changed toward the relationship of morality to Torah observance? [closed]
I have often noticed, in my interactions with other Orthodox Jews, that they seem to feel that the correct resolution of every moral question is to ask a prominent rabbi. For example, when I point out ...
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How to understand Yoseph's seemingly cruel actions?
It seems that Yoseph completely changed the system of government from one where citizens had land rights and minimal taxes to one where the right to property was taken away and 20% tax.
He basically ...
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Halachah against dirty looks?
Is there a halachah against giving people side-eyes/dirty looks? If memory serves this is in the Yom Kippur davening. What's the source?
If there is a prohibition, what's the exact character? Is one ...
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Seforim addressing numbness of heart?
Shalom,
Does anyone know any books / chapters in books that deal specifically with the problem of numbness of heart? I am looking for discussion / teaching on the causes and the remedies for this ...
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What is the difference between a Jewish marriage and a Noahide marriage?
Someone said that a Jewish marriage and a Noahide marriage are 2 different things. Could you give some Halakhic support? Ethical differences? I suppose the 2 have different missions, obviously, but ...
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How does Judaism solve the Euthyphro dilemma?
In short:
Socrates asks whether God loves the pious because it is the pious, or whether the pious is pious only because it is loved by God.
How does Judaism solve this dilemma?
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Are there sources that discuss the proper role of mood-altering substances?
I am curious if there are any sources (halachic or hashkafic) that discuss the use of mood or personality altering substances. From Caffeine or Chamomile tea all the way to psychiatric medication, ...
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Does God punish a sinner before the sin is committed?
Follow up to the question "By what standards does Judaism hold infants accountable for sin?". The issue raised was how could God hold infant Amalekites accountable for sins they did not ...
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Should a doctor use a promising-but-unproven medicine, or handle it via a clinical trial?
Suppose a patient has a life-threatening disease. The doctor can treat with a drug that sounds promising, but more data are needed before it's solidly proven to work. Alternatively, the doctor can use ...
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Difference in attitudes between the Tanya and Mesilat Yesharim
As far as I understand both Sefer Ha'Tanya and Mesilat Yesharim consult the man how to improve his characteristics and to be a better person. They instruct the man step by step. What are the ...
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Would talking to a friend about someone who is annoying to you be considered lashon hara? [duplicate]
I’ll expand the question in the title.
Suppose someone is being annoyed by somebody else or has certain doubts about how to proceed regarding somebody else’s behavior and is looking for advice. Not ...
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By what standards does Judaism hold infants accountable for sin?
In Samuel 15:3 Samuel relays God's instruction to Saul of obliterating the nation of Amalek. Included in this instruction is also the command to slay infants and sucklings.
Samuel 15:3
"Now, go, and ...
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Source of a story about Rav Salanter and limited time to learn Torah
Is there an authentic source for the below story?
The story is told of a man who asked Rabbi Yisroel Salanter a question. "Rebbi, I have only 15 minutes a day to learn Torah. What should I study?" ...
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The Heinz Dilemma in Halacha [duplicate]
A famous Kohlberg dilemma goes something like this:
Heinz’s wife is dying and there’s a drug that may be able to save her. Jack cannot afford the drug.
Can Heinz steal the drug to treat his wife?
...
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