12
votes
Accepted
Bish'vili nivra ha'olam/Anochi afar Papers
This practice was advocated (possibly first suggested) by R. Simcha Bunim of Peshischa, as brought in his name in the collection of Hassidic Torah and lore entitled 'Siach Sarfe Kodesh' (n. 233):
...
- 11.9k
11
votes
Accepted
Learning Alei Shur Part I or II first?
Ultimately it boils down to what subject matter you find most interesting.
The first cheilek is largely instructive in how best to achieve self growth whilst the second cheiliek goes into more detail ...
- 30.1k
9
votes
How to maintain devotion to Hashem in a low period in one's life?
You ask this question on the Friday of parasha Tzav. In a dvar Torah on that parasha, the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Likkutei Sichot vol I, pp. 217-219, cited in R Sachs' Torah studies p. 159) comments on the ...
- 47.7k
9
votes
Accepted
How should the 23rd judge vote?
As noted in this question, Ohr HaChaim to Shemot 23:2 writes that the 23rd judge must vote guilty, as he believes, even though that will result in the accused going free.
He explains the reason ...
- 41.7k
9
votes
Is there a master list(s) of Middot?
The Sefer Orchos Tzaddikim speaks about the following character traits:
גאוה - Pride/Arrogance
ענוה - Humility
בושה - Shame
עזות - Brazenness
אהבה - Love
שנאה - Hate
רחמים - Mercy
אכזריות - Cruelty
...
- 30.1k
8
votes
Examples of Rabbis who had strong disagreements and were amicable
Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook and Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld were practically polar opposites in terms of hashkafa (for example, in response to Rabbi Kook setting up the Eretz Yisrael Chief Rabbinate, ...
- 24.8k
8
votes
What is an overview of Judaism's arguments against the "unconscious violinist" analogy used to support abortion in the case of rape?
Rabbi Yosef Karo (1488 - 1575)states in Shulchan Aruch, (The Code of Jewish Law) that if a physician is able to heal a patient and refrains from doing so, this is considered murder. Yoreh Deah, 336:1
...
- 10.7k
8
votes
What exactly is the Mussar movement and how does it differ from mainstream Judaism?
The musar movement is mostly associated with Rabbi Yisra'el Salanter and his students. There is a lot that could be said about it, but I will write mostly about the more controversial aspects and ...
- 24k
7
votes
Is it good to engage in exceptional cases where it is permissible to do a typically forbidden action to which one has a taivah for
Shabbat 156a
האי מאן דבמאדים יהי גבר אשיד דמא אמר רבי אשי אי אומנא אי גנבא אי טבחא אי מוהלא אמר רבה אנא במאדים הורי אמר אביי מר נמי עניש וקטיל
‘He who is born under Mars will be a shedder of ...
- 49.1k
7
votes
When is it acceptable to be impolite or rude
No it is never ok to be rude. As Jews, we have to set the standard and example for others.
Indeed, this was the difference between Yaakov and Eisav. The Zohar on Parshas Toldos writes:
וַיַּעַשׂ גַּם ...
- 30.1k
6
votes
What the Bal Shem Tov Said
Source in Jewish Literature
The Talmud (kiddushin 70b) states that one who stigmatizes another is guilty of the same:
ותני: כל הפוסל - פסול, ואינו מדבר בשבחא לעולם, ואמר שמואל: במומו פוסל
He who ...
- 35.4k
6
votes
Accepted
Mussar seforim written by gentiles
In Benjamin Franklin's diary (see pg 38, 39), there is a discussion of making a weekly chart where each row is one of 13 virtues, and each column is a day of the week. That gives you a box for how you ...
- 9,388
6
votes
Accepted
Mussar work by Chacham Ovadia
The only works actually written by R. Ovadia that contain mussar are:
Anaf Etz Avot (anthology of commentaries/stories on Tractate Avot
Me’or Israel vol. 3 (collection of sermons and eulogies)
...
- 11.9k
6
votes
How should the 23rd judge vote?
Sanhedrin 17a (translation modified from Sefaria):
אמר רב כהנא סנהדרי שראו כולן לחובה פוטרין אותו מ"ט כיון דגמירי הלנת דין למעבד ליה זכותא והני תו לא חזו ליה
Rav Kahana says: In a Sanhedrin ...
- 24k
6
votes
Accepted
Is improving one's middot a mitzvah?
Sefer Hachinuch Mitsva 611
מצוה ללכת ולהדמות בדרכי השם יתברך - שנצטוינו לעשות כל מעשינו בדרך הישר
והטוב בכל כחנו, ולהטות כל דברינו אשר בינינו ובין זולתנו, על דרך החסד
והרחמים, כאשר ידענו מתורתנו שזהו ...
- 22.7k
6
votes
Accepted
Rabbi Yaron Reuven - Severe torture in gehinnom
There is a strong rabbinic mainstream consensus who would tell you to stay far, far away from him and his ideas. (Ask Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom -- who has ...
- 131k
5
votes
Definition of Baal Nefesh
Jastrow demonstrates (מר IV, p. 834) through a number of Talmudic sources that the term was popular during the Second Commonwealth and the meaning is, specially in this construct, "master over his ...
- 11.9k
5
votes
Kibbud Av v'Eim Seforim
ArtScroll has a book titled "The Fifth Commandment" that sounds like it might be what you're looking for.
- 6,753
5
votes
Immoral Halacha
This may be a matter of semantics but, inasmuch as halacha is defined as what one should do in any given scenario, the answer to 1 is necessarily no. This isn't to say that halacha is "one size fits ...
- 17.7k
5
votes
How to maintain devotion to Hashem in a low period in one's life?
By learning a little bit of Sha'ar HaBitahhon everyday.
- 7,423
5
votes
The Orchos Tzaddikim in Shaar HaSimcha: What does Purim have to do with remembering the Exodus?
In the commentary of Alei Orach on Orchos Tzadikim, he suggests:
1 - "כולם" is referring to all but Purim.
2 - On Purim we accepted the Torah voluntarily, "קימו וקיבלו היהודים" which was the ultimate ...
- 6,123
5
votes
Accepted
Need to cite sources
(In contrast with MY,) there is no clear requirement to cite sources. However, there are very important reasons to do so. We read in Pirkei Avot 6:6:
והתורה נקנית בארבעים ושמונה דברים, ואלו הן: [...] ...
- 7,434
5
votes
Accepted
What defines a person who is circumcised "of the heart"?
This is the subject of the fourth discourse of the the Alter Rebbe in the fourth section of the Tanya called Igeret HaKodesh.
He explains that process of circumcising the heart is to remove ones ...
- 14.2k
5
votes
Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz source of quote
According to Aish, the quote comes from Rabbi Yerucham's Even Sapir, pg. 72:
"אמר הגאון רבי ירוחם ממיר (בספר 'אבן ספיר' עמוד ע"ב): "אוי לו לאדם שאינו מכיר ליקויי נפשו, שהרי אינו יודע ...
- 24.8k
5
votes
Importance of coming on time for davening
I once heard a true story (it might have been in one of Rabbi Paysach Krohn's books).
There was this man who came late every day to shul. One day the Rabbi asked him, "I can see that you come to ...
- 989
5
votes
Accepted
What is good mussar one should learn daily?
There are several options as far as daily mussar learning
Mesilas Yesharim - To quote Rav Wolbe zt"l (Alei Shur, Vol 1, perek 12, 'Limmud Mussar'):
המסילת ישרים מגדיר את כל המדות הדרושות לנו, ...
- 30.1k
5
votes
Accepted
Is being on welfare if you can work against the will of Hashem?
Your question cited Christian Scripture in support of your point -- that's not going to support it from this audience, and we'd ask you not to bring that here. (This site has accepted questions asking ...
- 131k
5
votes
When is it acceptable to be impolite or rude
The Ramban advises in his Iggeres Haramban (Sefaria translation taken from here):
Accustom yourself to always speak all of your words calmly, to every
man and at every time. In doing so you will ...
- 378
4
votes
Is the sefer אור הצפון available?
Here are the links to sections 1, 3, 4, and 5
1: http://www.daat.ac.il/daat/vl/tohen.asp?id=304
2: Anyone got any idea where this is?
3: http://www.hebrewbooks.org/31561
4: http://www.hebrewbooks.org/...
- 41
4
votes
good online mussar work to study with a beginner
I just found this and I like it (it is in alef Bais order)
http://www.peleyoetz.com/
Pele Yoetz is a book of Jewish Musar literature first published in Constantinople in 1824 by Rabbi Eliezer Papo
...
- 7,466
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