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Self-Control Through Torah
How can Torah help you improve your self-control? With the help of Menahem Mendel Lefin's Cheshbon haNefesh, an important 19th-century work on character refinement, we delve into the weekly Torah portion to seek wisdom on refining our traits and mastering our moods and emotions. Listen in as Modya Silver, a psychotherapist and author, and David Gottlieb, a scholar of Jewish history and a teacher of Jewish contemplative practice, uncover the ethical wisdom contained in each weekly reading.
May 9, 2024
On "Frugality" (kimutz) in Kedoshim
Modya and David focus again this week on kimutz, or frugality, through the lens of the week's Torah portion, Kedoshim (Lev: 19:1-20:27). The central q…
May 2, 2024
On "Frugality" in Acharei Mot
Modya and David begin this week a focus on the trait of frugality, the careful shepherding of one's resources, monetary and otherwise. The Torah porti…
April 18, 2024
"Righteousness" (tzedek) in Metzora
On this week's episode, Modya and David are joined by the artist, writer, coach, and fellow podcaster Avrum Rosensweig to discuss parshat Metzora in t…
April 11, 2024
"Righteousness" in Tazria
David and Modya know that beauty is more than skin deep. In this episode, they look at the parsha of tazria (Leviticus 12:1–13:59) through the lens of…
April 4, 2024
More on "Righteousness" (Tzedek)
Modya and David take a deep dive this week into Shemini (Lev. 9:1-11:47) to explore the content for lessons in tzedek, or righteousness. How might det…
March 28, 2024
On "Righteousness" (Tzedek)
This week, Modya and David discuss what can be learned about tzedek, or righteousness, from Tzav in the book of Leviticus (Lev. 6:1-8:36). What do pri…
March 21, 2024
More on "Humility" with Rabbi Marc Margolius
This week, Modya and David are joined by Rabbi Marc Margolius, Vice President of Faculty and Program at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, to disc…
March 14, 2024
The Mussar Tradition and "Humility" (anavah)
This week, Modya and David discuss Pekudei (Ex. 38:21-40:38), the last Torah portion in the Book of Exodus, in light of the trait of Humility. Among t…
March 9, 2024
Building the Tabernacle
This week, Modya and David delve into Vayakhel (Ex. 35:1-38:20), the Torah portion that describes in great detail the specific materials and dimension…
February 29, 2024
The Character Trait of Humility (anavah)
This week, Modya and David discuss the Torah portion of Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35) in light of the character trait of anavah (humility). Their wide-…
February 24, 2024
Physical Cleanliness and Spiritual Cleanliness (nekiut)
In this episode Modya Silver concludes our four week look into the middah of cleanliness. He reviews the focus on physical cleanliness and how it insp…
February 15, 2024
"Cleanliness" (nekiut) and the Hubble Telescope
This week Modya presents solo on what we can learn about the middah of cleanliness (nekiut) from the Hubble telescope! Specifically, there are steps w…
February 8, 2024
More on "Cleanliness" (nekiyut)
On this week's episode, Modya and David discuss the Torah portion of Mishpatim (Ex. 21:1-24:18) through the lens of the character trait of nekiyut, or…
February 1, 2024
On the Idea of "Cleanliness" (nekiyut) in Exodus 18:1–20:23
This week, Modya and David move on to the character trait of nekiyut, or cleanliness, and use it as a lense on the Torah portion of Yitro, in which th…
January 25, 2024
The Lessons of the Middah of "Deciveness" (harizut)
On this week's episode, Modya and David are joined by Rabbi David Jaffe, a writer, Mussar teacher, and organizer, to discuss lessons on the middah of …
January 18, 2024
"Decisiveness" (harizut) in Exodus 10:1-13:16 (Bo)
In this week's episode, Modya and David delve into lessons on decisiveness (harizut) in the weekly Torah portion, Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16). Our hosts di…
January 12, 2024
More on "Decisiveness" (harizut)
In discussing this week's Torah portion, Va'era (Exodus 6:2-9:35) in light of the character trait of Decisiveness, Modya and David ponder big questio…
January 4, 2024
The Trait of "Decisiveness" (harizut)
In this week's episode, Modya and David explore Sh'mot, the first parsha in the Book of Exodus, in light of the trait of harizut, or decisiveness. The…
December 27, 2023
Naming The Need For Order
In this episode David and Modya look at the final Torah portion of Vayechi in the book of Genesis through the lens of order (seder). In this parsha th…
December 20, 2023
"Order" and the Big Reveal
David and Modya explore the challenges of balancing relationships with getting things done in life. They see how in parsha VaYigash order and disorder…