I am a psychiatrist and medical ethicist—not a theologian or rabbinical scholar. And yet, for more than thirty years, I have had a kind of love affair with rabbinical ethics and have written several books on the topic. This is particularly ironic, since, in my youth, I rebelled against my own rabbi’s teachings and my father’s adherence to Orthodox Judaism. Much later in life, I took courses in Jewish ethics and studied briefly with a local rabbi. I eventually came to appreciate the deep psychological wisdom in so much of Jewish and rabbinical ethics.
I wrote
The Ethics of the Jewish Mystics: An Introduction and Commentary
Rabbi Telushkin presents Jewish ethical teachings in a clear, compelling, and often quite personal way, calling upon his vast experience as a scholar and spiritual leader. I have come back to this book many times for ethical guidance in my own life. Rabbi Telushkin manages to present complex ethical ideas in a reader-friendly manner, often leavened by amusing personal stories and experiences.
A Code of Jewish Ethics, Volume 1: You Shall Be Holy is the initial volume of the first major code of Jewish ethics to be written in the English language. It is a monumental work on the vital topic of personal character and integrity by one of the premier Jewish scholars and thinkers of our time.
With the stated purpose of restoring ethics to its central role in Judaism, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin offers hundreds of examples from the Torah, the Talmud, rabbinic commentaries, and contemporary stories to illustrate how ethical teachings can affect our daily behavior. The subjects dealt with…
Pirke Avos—often translated as “The Ethics of the Fathers” or “The Chapters of the Sages”—is the only book of the Talmuddevoted exclusively to ethics. (The Talmudis a collection of rabbinical commentaries on the Torah, or “Old Testament”).Don’t be put off by the “gendered” title. Pirke Avosis a treasure trove of ethical guidance and psychological insight for anyone seeking a richer spiritual life. This particular edition brings together scores of sages and scholars in one volume.
We’ve all experienced the overwhelming level of political and social divisiveness in our country. This invisible “virus” of negativity is, in part, the result of the name-calling and heated rhetoric that has become commonplace among commentators and elected leaders alike.
My book provides a clear perspective on the historical and…
Judaism is sometimes accused of being obsessed with rituals and laws, at the expense of interpersonal relationships. Rabbi Feldman’s insightful book debunks that charge, focusing in psychologically astute ways on human relationships. Topics include revenge, violence, love, and generosity. While scholarly in content, this book has a friendly, informal tone, such as the chapter titled, “One strike and you’re out: hitting and raising a hand in violence.”
In an effort to respond to the baseless criticism that Jewish law is overly preoccupied with religious ritual at the expense of issues having to do with interpersonal relationships, the author presents a detailed exploration of the vast attention that the masters of Jewish thought have given to relations between and among individuals. This book is not a legal guide to interpersonal relationships in Jewish life, nor is it a volume of moral exhortation. Rather, Rabbi Feldman aims to convey the importance of his subject by exhibiting its hallowed place within the structure of Jewish law and within the analysis…
The team of renowned scholar (Professor Borowitz) and popular educator (Francie Schwartz) have produced a friendly, welcoming guide to living an ethical life, based on traditional Jewish virtues. Topics include trustworthiness, lovingkindness, compassion, humility, and contentedness. This book is really a guide to musar—the practical wisdom that has guided Jewish conduct throughout the centuries.
What happens when a person is placed into a medically-induced coma?
The brain might be flatlining, but the mind is far from inactive: experiencing alternate lives rich in every detail that spans decades, visiting realms of stunning and majestic beauty, or plummeting to the very depths of Hell while defying…
Professor Judah Goldin’s new translation of Pirke Avot, along with his introductory essay on the Talmud, provides a concise, easily understood introduction to Jewish ethics. Prof. Goldin also provides some of the first English translations of many classical commentaries on Pirke Avot, all in a compact, paperback format. By making these translations available to the general public, Goldin has performed a valuable service.
How do we live as decent, caring human beings? What values do we chose? This book provides a basic introduction to the ethical teachings of the Jewish mystics. The author believes that what is most valuable in the writings of Moses Cordovero, Nachman of Bratslav, and other Jewish mystics are their ethical teachings—more so than their mystical speculations. No previous knowledge of rabbinic Judaism or Jewish mysticism is required, nor is there any presumption that the reader accepts the theology of Judaism. However, readers who embrace Orthodox Judaism may find this survey of rabbinic ethics a useful guide to "the good life."
Why We Hate asks why a social animal like Homo sapiens shows such hostility to fellow species members. The invasion of the Ukraine by Russia? The antisemitism found on US campuses in the last year? The answer and solution lies in the Darwinian theory of evolution through natural selection.
Reduce stress, ease anxiety, and increase inner peace—one day at a time—with a year of easy-to-follow mindfulness meditation techniques. Certified mindfulness teacher, bestselling author, ultramarathoner, wife, and dog-mom Nita Sweeney shares mindfulness meditation practices to help anyone break free from worry and self-judgment.
