Bereishit (45:1-3) (Robert Alter, trans.) And Joseph could not longer hold himself in check before all who stood attendance upon him, and he cried, “Clear out everyone around […]
Parshat Vayigash
Speaking Directly
Parshat Mikeitz
Bereishit (41: 15) (Robert Alter, trans.) And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I dreamed a dream and none can solve it, and I have heard about you that you can understand […]
Parshat Vayeishev
Bereishit (37: 32-36) And they took Joseph’s tunic and slaughtered a kid and dipped the tunic in the blood, and they sent the ornamented tunic and had it brought to […]
Parshat Vayishlach
In this remarkable episode, Jacob re-engages with his brother, fearing the worst but ultimately experiencing transformational growth both spiritually and in his relationship with his brother. It includes one of […]
Parsha Vayeitzei
Bereishit (27:35-36) (Robert Alter, trans.) When Esau heard his father’s words, he cried out with a great and bitter outcry and he said to his father, “Bless me, too, Father!” […]
Parshat Chayei Sarah
Rabbis Leibowitz and Dessler focus on the story of Eliezer’s search for a bride for Issac. The story is very lengthy and packs in many of the mussar themes concerning […]
Parshat Vayera
Bereishit 18:1-10 (Robert Alter, trans) And the LORD appeared to him in the Terebinths of Mamre when he was sitting by the tent flap in the heat of the day. […]
Parshat Lech Lecha
Bereishit 12: 1-4 (Robert Alter trans.) And the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your land and your birthplace and your father’s house to the land I will show […]
Parshat Noach
While this parsha includes the destruction of the world, the formation of human languages, and the initiation of Abraham’s journey, our Mussar lesson will look at a small episode of […]
Parshat Bereshit
Henach Leibowitz, Majesty of Man
Many people think that learning mussar and studying middos is merely “icing the cake,” of secondary importance to the rest of the Torah. On the […]