“Hillel said, “Do not judge others until you stand in their place.” There is a tendency in human nature to criticize others for their flaws, mistakes, and inadequacies. However, we usually are unaware of the factors that lead to their blunders. What’s more, if we had the same pressures that caused our friend to err, [...]

“Rabbi Yosi said, ‘Prepare yourself for Torah study, for it is not an inheritance and let all of your deeds be for the sake of Heaven.’” Each one of us desires to grow in wisdom and to achieve clarity in Torah knowledge. To this end, Rabbi Yosi offers sound advice, “Torah is not an inheritance.” [...]

Rabbi Nachunya ben Hakana would utter a prayer before he began to study Torah: May it be Your will that I do not err in my studies, and my friends rejoice in me. And may my friends not err in their studies, and I rejoice in them. The intent of his prayer was, “May my [...]

. “Ben Bagbag said: Turn it and turn it – for everything is dependent upon it.” What is this great thing that everything, i.e., all success, depends upon it? It is the dedication to Torah study. We understand Torah is important because it teaches us the path of goodness. However, why didn’t the text simply [...]

“Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? The person who learns from every person. Who is strong? The person who overcomes his passions. Who is wealthy? The person who is happy with his portion. Who is honored? The person who honors others.” This passage of Ben Zoma presents a formula for spiritual success. The following parable [...]

. Rabbi said: Do not look at the vessel; rather look at what is inside. There is a new vessel that is filled with aged, vintage wine; and there is an old container that is completely empty – it contains not even a scent of new wine. It is human nature to associate the quality [...]

The more advice, the more wisdom. The ancients used to say, “Take advice and follow your own judgment.” Although this statement seems contradictory – in truth – it reveals a great secret. A person who is asked to give advice cannot see the whole picture because he is viewing the problem from “the outside.” Whereas [...]

“Rabbi Tarfon said: If you learned a great amount of Torah, you will receive a great reward.” A man traveling on the road found a pouch full of precious diamonds. He quickly returned to his house in order to get a closer look at his find. When he opened the pouch the sparkling gems lit [...]

“Rabbi Yishmael said, ‘Greet every person cheerfully.’” Every member of Israel is descended from our Patriarchs – Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaacov. When we meet any person who is from the People of Israel, we remind ourselves that they are the offspring of our holy Forefathers. Therefore, it is important to greet them with happiness and [...]

Hillel said, “Do not say, ‘I will reveal private information to a friend because no one will ever know what I said.’ - For ultimately it will become known.” The quality of our interpersonal relationships rests primarily on the nature of our conversations. If we speak pleasantly and positively, our lives will be filled with many [...]

“Ben Azai said: The reward of a Mitzvah is a Mitzvah. The performance of a Mitzvah awakens joy in the soul of man. What’s more, the delight and joy that we experience through performing the Mitzvah is a separate Mitzvah, in and of itself. That is, HaShem counts the pleasure and happiness that we feel [...]

Rabbi Yehoshua said, A  “bad” eye, the negative impulse, and hatred removes a person from the world. Man stands at the gateway between the physical world and the spiritual world. The only creation composed of both a material element and a holy soul; he lives in both worlds simultaneously. The purpose of man’s existence is [...]

“Hillel said, ‘Do not say, I will reveal private information to a friend because no one will ever know what I said. – For ultimately it will become known.’” The quality of our interpersonal relationships rests primarily on the nature of our conversations. If we speak pleasantly and positively, our lives will be filled with [...]

“Yehudah ben Tema said: Be bold as a leopard; light as an eagle; swift as a deer; and strong as a lion to carry out the will of your Father in Heaven.”   This passage reveals the secret of empowerment and vitality. Usually, when a person expends his energy, he must rest in order to [...]

‘Yehudah ben Tema used to say: “A five- year- old begins Scripture; a ten-year-old begins Mishneh; a thirteen-year-old becomes obliged to keep the Mitzvoth; a fifteen-year-old begins the study of Talmud.”‘   The phrase “a fifteen-year-old to the study of Talmud” alludes to our Patriarchs – Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaacov. Avraham was alive during the [...]