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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.
This week, Modya and David explore Moses's final, poetic message to Israel (Ha'azinu, Deut. 32:1-32:52), through the lens of the trait of prishut, or …
In this week's episode, Modya and David explore the Double Torah portion of Nitzavim-Vayelech through the lens of the trait of Separation. Questions …
We begin our 13th and last middah (separateness - perishut) that we explore in conjunction with parsha Ki Tavo. David and Modya look at what separate …
This week, Modya and David are joined by Rabbi Chaim Safren to discuss parshat Ki Teitzei through the Mussar lens of Emet, or Truth. Their discussion …
In this week's episode, Modya and David discuss parshat Re'eh (Deut. 11:26-16:17) through the lens of Emet (Truth). Among other directives, Moses dire…
This week, Modya and David look at the weekly Torah portion through a new lens -- that of Truth. They explore whether there is absolute truth, and whe…
Modya and David are joined this week by Ruth Schapira (about whose work you can learn more at innerjudaism.com) to look at the role of grace and calmn…
In this week's episode, Modya and David ponder the repetition that now unfolds in the Book of Deuteronomy (Devarim). As we read of Moses beginning to …
This week, Modya and David explore the double parsha that ends the book of Numbers (Bamidbar). They explore once again the role of calmness in speech …
In Pinchas (Num. 25:10-30:1), the Moses prepares the people for crossing over into the land. The preparations come on the heels of violence and plague…
In this week's episode, David and Modya speak with Rebecca Schliser, a core faculty member at the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and rabbinical stu…
In this week's episode, Modya and David's method for exploring the Torah portion through the lens of a specific character trait lands them on Chukat (…
Korach (Num. 16:1-18:32), one of the most riveting and dramatic narratives in all of Torah, is, perhaps counterintuitively, fertile ground for a discu…
This week, Modya and David discuss parshat Shelakh (also known as Shelakh Lekha) in the Book of Numbers, using the lens of the attribute of Shtikah, o…
Today, Modya and David welcome Mindy Shapiro, a Philadelphia-based student and teacher of Mussar and an artist*, to discuss parshat B'ha'alotkha (Num.…
This week, Modya and David dive into parshat Naso (Num. 4:21-7:89), the longest portion in the entire Torah -- 70 verses of which are identical! This …
What sort of people do you surround yourself with? And what is your mission in life? How best to marshal all aspects of your personality, and your com…
On this week's episode, Modya and David switch lenses to the trait of Zerizut, or Diligence, and use that as a lens through which to explore parshat B…
This week David and Modya complete their investigation of frugality looking at the parsha of Behar. We see how the lens is widened to include not only…
In parsha Emor (Leviticus 21:1-24:23), David and Modya continue to explore "frugality." They look at it being part of a continuum of holiness and see …