Yanki Tauber

Judge every man to the side of merit Ethics of the Fathers, 1:6 On the most elementary level, this means that if you discern a negative trait in your fellow or you see him commit a negative act, do not judge him guilty in your heart. "Do not judge your fe...

Assume a Master for yourself Ethics of the Fathers, 1:6 "And they believed in G‑d and in Moses His servant" (Exodus 14:31). What was the nature of Israel's relationship to Moses? Moses, after all, is a human being. And yet, the Torah uses the very same wo...

Make a safety fence around the Torah Ethics of the Fathers, 1:1 The Torah is a living document, to be applied to all societies and all generations of history. Thus, the Almighty entrusted the sages and Torah authorities of each generation with the respons...

All Israel has a share in the World to Come, as it is stated: “And your people are all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever. They are the shoot of My planting, the work of My hands, in which I take pride.” -Talmud, Sanhedrin 90a (introductory re...

Rabbi Chanania the son of Akashiah would say: G‑d desired to refine the people of Israel; therefore, He gave them Torah and mitzvos in abundance.... (Talmud, Makot, 23b - this Mishnah is studied at the conclusion of each weekly lesson of the Ethics) The p...

All that G‑d created in His world, He did not create but for His glory. Ethics of the Fathers, 6:11 "I was created to serve my Creator." With these words, the Talmud sums up the purpose of life. But there is also another version of this talmudic passage, ...

This is the way of Torah: Bread with salt you shall eat, water in small measure you shall drink, and upon the ground you shall sleep; live a life of deprivation and toil in Torah Ethics of the Fathers, 6:4 Contrast this with Rabbi Jonathan's promise in th...

If King David, who learned nothing from Achitofel except for two things alone, nevertheless referred to him as his "master," "guide," and "intimate,” it certainly goes without saying that one who learns from his fellow a single chapter, a law, a verse, a ...

one who occupies ("osek") himself with Torah Ethics of the Fathers, 6:2 The term most often used by our sages to describe our involvement with Torah is not study, learn, practice, observe or the like, but osek ("occupy oneself")--a verb usually associat...

There is no free individual, except for he who occupies himself with the Torah. Ethics of the Fathers, 6:2 Why the roundabout, "negative" wording of the mishnah? Why not simply say "True freedom is attained through Torah"? Man is a finite being, and every...