Self-Control Through Torah

episodes

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.

October 17, 2024

Spiritual Separation in V'zot Habracha

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

David and Modya welcome Dr. Robert Barris to this episode. Robert is a NY-based psychiatrist, a deep thinker and a long-time student of Mussar who has…

October 3, 2024

"Separation" in Ha'azinu

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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 …

September 26, 2024

"Separation" in Nitzavim-Vayelech

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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 …

September 19, 2024

"Separateness" in Ki Tavo

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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 …

September 12, 2024

"Truth" in Ki Teitzei

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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 …

August 29, 2024

The Idea of "Truth" in Re'eh

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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…

August 22, 2024

"Truth" in Eikev

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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…

August 15, 2024

"Grace" and "Calmness" in Va'etchanan

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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…

August 8, 2024

"Calmness" in Devarim

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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 …

August 1, 2024

"Calmness" in Matot-Masei

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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 …

July 25, 2024

"Calm" in Pinchas

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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…

July 19, 2024

The Middah of "Silence" in Balak

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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…

July 11, 2024

"Silence" in Chukat

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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 (…

July 4, 2024

Silence in Korach

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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…

June 27, 2024

On "Silence" (Shtikah) in Shelakh

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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…

June 20, 2024

The Trait of "Diligence" in B'ha'alotkha

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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.…

June 13, 2024

On "Diligence" (zerizut) in Naso

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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 …

June 6, 2024

What is Your Mission?

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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…

May 30, 2024

On "Diligence" (zerizut) in Bechukotai

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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…

May 23, 2024

The Trait of "Frugality" in Behar

Hosted by Modya Silver and David Gottlieb

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…