Mishlei 15-23   Timing Key Concepts One of the pleasures of life is talking. For many people the experience of expressing their thoughts through the spoken word is so enjoyable that they engage in it at every opportunity. Of course, they can only do this as long as...

Mishlei 15-24  Upwards Key Concepts Every person is continually choosing between his physical needs and his spiritual needs. However, physical needs and desires are immediately visible and pressing, and therefore people are inclined to give priority to them. For a...

Mishlei 15-25   Providence Key Concepts Providence refers to the individual care and attention that Hashem exercises on a personal level for each of us. This phenomenon is also known as “hashgachah pratis” (individual attention). This attention to each of His...

Mishlei 15-26   Deceit Key Concepts The ability to speak is the quality that defines a human being. It is Hashem’s great gift to mankind. However, speech is only meaningful when it expresses the speaker’s thoughts, formed into words and and sentences. A person who...

Mishlei 15-27   Greed Key Concepts Many people are affected by a powerful urge to acquire physical possessions, far beyond their actual needs. When the urge becomes overwhelming it can block out rational judgment and lead the avaricious person to disregard the...

Mishlei 15-28   Deliberation Key Concepts The way in which a person answers a question reveals his character. If he is a tzadik, his character will be shaped by humility and therefore he will not speak until he has carefully thought through what he is about to say....

Mishlei 15-29   Estrangement Key Concepts Hashem very much wants to be close to us for we are His handiwork. It is in our interest to be close to Him, for then he hears our tefillos and responds to them. But whether we are in fact close to Hashem depends very much on...

Mishlei 15-30 Delight Key Concepts What does it mean to feel delight? It’s what happens when you are faced with an urgent problem that seems to have no solution. If you suddenly see a way out and a clear solution presents itself, you will feel delight. This feeling...

Mishlei 15-31   Criticism Key Concepts It takes a wise and humble person to welcome criticism. People lacking humility would like to believe they have little room for improvement. Therefore, they see any attempt at criticism as motivated by ill-will. The ear is the...

Mishlei 15-32  Intervention Key Concepts As we have seen (Mishlei 15-10), Hashem reminds us of our moral failings by means of customized interventions into the routine of our life. Some of these interventions are in the form of mussar and others are in the form of...

Mishlei 15-33   Humility Key Concepts In creating man, Hashem made him superior to all other creatures. In so doing He presented man with a great challenge — not to let the sense of superiority go to his head. When a person feels superior, he may unthinkingly believe...

Mishlei 16-01 Control - Speech Key Concepts We have been created with the illusion that we are in control of our lives, even on a minute-by-minute basis. However, if we stop and think we realize how much of what affects us is not under our personal control, either...

Mishlei 16-02  Rationalization Key Concepts Even when people behave badly, they convince themselves that they are justified in what they are doing. Perhaps they think they have been unfairly treated and they are only taking back what is rightfully theirs. Perhaps they...

Mishlei 16-03   Control - Awareness Key Concepts We can assume that a righteous person would like to do the right thing in every situation. But making that decision is often difficult because of all the various factors, spiritual and material, affecting any decision....

Mishlei 16-04 Purpose Key Concepts When we look at the world we live in, we are awed by all its wonders. We are filled with gratitude at being given the opportunity to be part of it and to live and breathe within it. However, the world is far too complex and too vast...

Mishlei 16-05   Arrogance Key Concepts Every person has been placed on this earth with a mission that is unique to him and his particular circumstance. However, a common characteristic of everyone’s mission is to acknowledge his Creator and to act in accordance the...

Mishlei 16-06   Teshuvah Key Concepts There are times when a person is overcome by a mood of selfishness or ego that causes him to violate his inner conscience and act to please himself. Such violation is called sin and is the greatest challenge that a person must...

Mishlei 16-07 Harmony Key Concepts Life is full of occasions when another person says or does something that triggers in you a feeling of resentment. Their motivation may be simple thoughtlessness or ignorance, or it may be an expression of anger for whatever reason....

Mishlei 16-08   Property Key Concepts Our economic system is based on private ownership of property by individuals or partners. Each person acquires assets of all kinds over the course of his lifetime. However, the owner of any asset needs to bear in mind that he does...

Mishlei 16-09   Control - Accomplishment Key Concepts Any action that a person undertakes normally begins with the thought of what he would like to do. He considers whether it is the right thing to do and whether it is likely to succeed. He then puts his mind to it...

Mishlei 16-10   Charisma Key Concepts Some individuals are blessed with a charisma or charm that causes people to pay attention to every word they have to say. Such individuals are born leaders because they attract followers who are eager to accept their guidance and...

Mishlei 16-11  Commerce. Participation Key Concepts Hashem wants every person to maintain the highest standard of integrity in his business dealings. This means being truthful about the product he is selling and being honest about the money he is giving in exchange....

Mishlei 16-12   Power Key Concepts People who have power over others have a special responsibility to wield that power wisely. Such people may be kings or nobles. Alternately, they may be employers or supervisors in an enterprise, or they may simply be parents or...

Mishlei 16-13  Authenticity Key Concepts One of the major challenges of leadership is being able to recognize people who manage what they say to make a good impression. In contrast, a king or other wise leader will favor the kinds of people that have authenticity....

Mishlei 16-14   Anger. King Key Concepts A feeling of anger may be aroused in response to a real or perceived offense. Typically, the angry person relieves his frustration by expressing himself with harsh words or actions. Unfortunately, anger is like a drug that...

Mishlei 16-15  Royal - Greeting. Key Concepts Many people have achieved a position in society that gives them the power to have a favorable impact upon the lives of others. Neverthless their decisions are often guided by self-interest or the benefit of the community...

Mishlei 16-16   Learning Key Concepts Mishlei teaches us that there are two major aspects to the process of acquiring Torah wisdom. One is the faithful study by which a person learns the laws and principles of the Torah from written sources and wise teachers. The...

Mishlei 16-17   Vigilance Key Concepts As discussed in Mishlei 11-10 the good people in a community may be described in terms of Yashrus. This is the quality of fair-minded and upright people (Yesharim) who are motivated by their deeply felt sense of right and wrong....

Mishlei 16-18 Majestic Pride Key Concepts Majestic pride is the emotion of self-satisfaction that is associated with royalty and the trappings of power. In our society it may be displayed by very wealthy people or by those with political power. A person who has such...

Mishlei 16-19 Humility and Pride Key Concepts Humility and pride are contrasting qualities. They affect not only the individual’s social behavior but his entire approach to life, especially the way he relates to wealth. Humble people try to maintain a low profile in...

Mishlei 16-20  Control - Planning Key Concepts What does it take to succeed in any endeavor? The answer is to carefully think through what you want to do, what you want to achieve and what it will take to get it done. Why do projects fail? Because people haven’t given...

Mishlei 16-21  Wisdom–Insight Key Concepts Wisdom (chochmah) is the knowledge that guides a person in making good choices in life. He applies this knowledge under control of his heart, which is a central part of the human personality. Without the involvement of the...

Mishlei 16-22  Wisdom – Intellect Key Concepts The heart is that part of the human personality which is the seat of human emotion. It is the driving force that impels a person to take action. However, the emotions are not the best judge of what is right and wrong,...

Mishlei 16-23  Wisdom – Teaching Key Concepts To teach the wisdom of the Torah, a person needs to be a chacham lev (possessor of a wise heart), that is, a person who has trained his heart to be guided by his wisdom.  The heart of such a person may be described as a...

Mishlei 16-24  Wisdom – Sweetness Key Concepts Wisdom reaches a fulfilled state when it takes the form of carefully chosen words delivered by a wise teacher to an attentive student. The teacher is motivated not only to guide his listener but also to please him. To...

Mishlei 16-25  Wisdom – Discernment [Pesukim 16:25 and 16:26] Key Concepts When a person is faced with choices, he is naturally tempted to follow the path of least resistance, the path which seems easiest to follow. Even if that path is destined to cause him great...

Mishlei 16-27  Principles Key Concepts To function in the world every person needs to restrain his natural instincts for gaining advantage and feeding his appetites. He may be motivated by positive forces a such as an innate sense of right and wrong or by the desire...

Mishlei 16-28  The Community – Strife Key Concepts Unhappy and bitter people are sometimes motivated to cause dissension in a community by intentionally distorting the truth, by revealing private information, and by finding fault in every situation. And so, they...

Mishlei 16-29  Criminality Key Concepts A criminal is a person who consciously sets himself apart from the standards of society. In this way he frees himself from the restraints that prevent civilized people from acting upon each other with violence and injustice....

Mishlei 16-30  Crime – Progression Key Concepts A serious offense does not happen instananeously. The offender goes through a sequenced progression of thoughts, speech, and action to result in the harm done to another person. During the course of this progression, the...

Mishlei 16-31  Age – Progression Key Concepts As a person grows older, he passes through a series of stages each of which offers its own challenges, opportunities, and rewards. However, the change from one stage to the next is generally so gradual that he is barely...

Mishlei 16-32  Forbearance Key Concepts Anyone can find himself in a situation where he is momentarily subject to powerful emotions such as anger, greed, love, jealousy, or hatred. If he is an intelligent person he will realize that thoughtlessly giving in to the...

Mishlei 16-33  Control – Luck Key Concepts People buy lottery tickets on the off-chance that they might win a fortune. If they win they think it is their good luck. But statistics show that most people who a win a large sum of money in a lottery end up worse off than...

Mishlei 17-01  Wealth – Greed Key Concepts Some people see life as a game that they urgently want to win. They measure their success by the extent to which they acquire more possessions, privileges, or power, especially in comparison to others. If they inherit...

Mishlei 17-02  Inheritance Key Concepts A person’s station in life is strongly influenced by his beginnings. If he was born to a family of wealth, culture, and achievement he has a powerful head start. However, he is at risk of believing that he has an inherent right...

Mishlei 17-03  Control – Privacy Key Concepts Despite the fact that we go to great lengths to preserve our privacy, Mishlei takes care to remind us that privacy is an illusion. Our Creator did not send us out into the world as independent beings, even though we may...

Mishlei 17-04  Speech – Listening Key Concepts Human speech is a marvelous gift from Hashem. However, it can easily be misued and cause great harm. Once words are spoken, the initial judge of what has been said is the listener. What does he listen to? What credence...

Mishlei 17-05  Speech – Insensitivity Key Concepts You reveal a lot about yourself by the way you react to the misfortune of another person. For example, you might identify with him, thinking that what has happened to him could just as easily have happened to you....

Mishlei 17-06  Wisdom – Continuity Key Concepts It is a natural ambition for every Jew to serve as a secure link in the great chain of Jewish history. He can achieve this great happiness by passing on the Torah way of life to his children and grandchildren. And so,...

Mishlei 17-07  Status – Nobility Key Concepts When an unaccomplished person acts with foolish self-importance, he is likely to give himself away by his pompous, lofty manner of speaking. His choice of language brands him as a faker. If he pretends to be a generous...

Mishlei 17-08  Influence – Bribe Key Concepts It is possible to influence someone else’s behavior by means of a gift, gratuity, or bribe. Depending on the circumstances, such an offering may serve a noble purpose or a harmful purpose. The offering may be in the form...

Mishlei 17-09 Forbearance – Love Key Concepts What is love? Unfortunately, despite the wide variations in what people actually mean when they use the word, they continue to rely on it as a generic label for a complex and changing set of emotions. And so, it is...

Mishlei 17-10  Intervention – Verbal Key Concepts There are times when person needs to be reminded that the path he is following will lead to tragedy. The responsiveness of the person being corrected depends on the nature of the rebuke and on his character. If he is...

Mishlei 17-11  Embitterment Key Concepts Sooner or later, everyone experiences frustration and disappointment. There are times when things don’t work out as you expected and the good fortune that you thought you deserved does not materialize. So what do you do? You...

Mishlei 17-12  Wisdom – Fear Key Concepts Even the smallest living creature is able to recognize the presence of danger. In reaction to its sense of danger, the creature triggers some kind of defense mechanism that enables it to evade or overcome the danger...

Mishlei 17-13  Ingratitude Key Concepts Hashem created the world as an act of kindness towards its creatures. Man is the most noble of all the created beings, with the ability to appreciate the kindness that has been done to him in giving him life. In return he is...

Mishlei 17-14  Conflict Key Concepts In every situation where people interact there is a potential for conflict. Either party may be at fault in whole or in part, but no matter how it started, every conflict has the potential to take on a life of its own. There is a...

Mishlei 17-15  Falsification Key Concepts There are times when one is inclined to pervert the truth to achieve a special purpose. For example, one may favor a wicked person, speaking highly of him or giving in to his wishes. Correspondingly there are times when one is...

Mishlei 17-16  Illusions Key Concepts As we have seen, a major theme of Mishlei is to teach people to appreciate Torah wisdom and to encourage them to do what they can to acquire that wisdom. But Mishlei now advises the reader that if he wants to embark on the road to...

Mishlei 17-17  Friendship Key Concepts Friendship is an essential quality among Jews. It reflects the bonding of souls that took place when the Jewish people stood at Mount Sinai to receive the Torah in heartfelt unison. The subconscious love that Jewish people have...

Mishlei 17-18  Commitments Key Concepts A person is sometimes tempted to make a commitment which he believes he will never to be called upon to honor. A typical example arises when he is asked to act as a co-signer, guaranteeing a loan for his friend. He hopes the...

Mishlei 17-19  Faultfinding Key Concepts There are times when constructive criticism is of great value to help people improve themselves. However, such criticism should generally be applied very gently and with great wisdom. Tragedy can result when a person adopts an...

Mishlei 17-20  Perversity Key Concepts To do what is right a person needs to be able to recognize truth, but that can only be done if he has a clear mind and thinks things through. His mind will then influence his heart to find the right way through life under the...

Mishlei 17-21  Parenting Key Concepts It is natural for parents to look to their children for a sense of fulfillment and meaning in their own lives. The possibility of finding joy and gratification in the accomplishments of children helps motivate Jewish parents to...

Mishlei 17-22  Attitude Key Concepts It is natural for people to wish for a happy, healthy life, but the things that they do in the pursuit of happiness are often destructive to what they are seeking. This is because they allow their mind to dwell on whatever it is...

Mishlei 17-23  Influence – Bribe Key Concepts Bribery has been a human weakness throughout the ages. The person seeking to gain unfair advantage by giving a gift to a judge or other officeholder surely deserves to be condemned. But even more deserving of censure are...

Mishlei 17-24 Learning Key Concepts The wisdom of the Torah is designed to be learned by ordinary human beings. But many people find great difficulties in learning because they approach it from the wrong perspective. If a person’s thinking dwells on the massive...

Mishlei 17-25 Parenting Key Concepts Any person who is working on developing his character and living a worthwhile life,  shares that responsibility with the parents who have nurtured and raised him. And so, if he fails to live as he should, he has not only harmed...

Mishlei 17-26 Goodness Key Concepts A good person is inclined to forgive those who have offended him. The offenders may deserve punishment for the harm they have done, but the good person doesn’t want to be the cause of another’s pain. Even if the punishment is...

Mishlei 17-27 Speech Key Concepts There is nothing more precious than the gift of speech, the faculty that enables human beings to easily communicate with each other and their Creator. However, the value of the instrument of speech depends on what it is being used...

Mishlei 18-01 Living Apart Key Concepts At the very beginning of Creation, Hashem said, “It is not good that man should be alone.” (Bereishis 2:18). Life becomes truly meaningful only when shared with a spouse, a family, and a community. A man may be motivated to live...

Mishlei 18-02 Complacency Key Concepts Fools who think highly of themselves are not motivated to learn from others. They are not aware that there may be some valuable insight or wisdom they don’t already know. On the other hand, such people enjoy drawing attention to...

Mishlei 18-03 Dishonor Key Concepts The way a person treats others has a direct effect on his own character. Thus, the Mishnah teaches that one who honors others is himself worthy of honor (Avos 4, 1). The reverse effect is also true. A person who disrespects others...

Mishlei 18-04 Words Key Concepts People often underestimate the significance of the words spoken by a Torah scholar. Mishlei encourages the listener to think carefully into the implications of what such a man is saying. There may be great depth to his words of wisdom...

Mishlei 18-05 Favoritism Key Concepts A person who is in a position of power, whether it be a judge, employer, parent, or teacher should be careful about allowing his natural instinct to make unconscious judgments about others. Before he has had a chance to make a...

Mishlei 18-06 Belligerence [Pesukim 18:6 and 18:7] Key Concepts There are people who enter any verbal exchange in an argumentative or confrontational tone. They think their aggressive attitude protects them from being taken advantage of. Such people are especially...

Mishlei 18-08 Attitude – Resentment Key Concepts People who suffer from an attitude of resentment are continually overwhelmed by disappointment. They view themselves as victims who have been treated unfairly. Instead of appreciating the good things of life they focus...

Mishlei 18-09 Learning – Energy Key Concepts Acquiring the wisdom of the Torah is a very demanding activity. Despite the fact that we think of the Torah as a parchment scroll on which its words are written, the essence of Torah is the knowledge that exists in the mind...

Mishlei 18-10 Strength [Pesukim 18:10 and 18:11] Key Concepts Why do we need strength? We turn to Hashem to grant us the strength to withstand threats to our safety and well-being. These threats include sickness, poverty, and people who seek to do us harm. We also...

Mishlei 18-12 Arrogant Pride Key Concepts In a previous proverb (12-15), Mishlei praised the virtue of humility and associated it with wisdom, which is described as the readiness to seek advice. Mishlei now turns to the converse of humility, which is arrogant pride....

Mishlei 18-13 Haste Key Concepts Time is a most valuable, but highly limited resource. Therefore, a wise person tries to use it efficiently. He takes up every task with a sense of urgency, even when the task itself is not urgent. As long as the there is a need for the...

Mishlei 18-14 Attitude – Depression Key Concepts The relationship between mind and body is shrouded in mystery. Each depends on the other to some extent, but the mechanics are hidden from us. However, experience has shown that a positive mental attitude is critical in...

Mishlei 18-15 Learning – Two Modes Key Concepts Every righteous Jew should be engaged in learning Torah to a greater or lesser degree throughout his life. But the learning process has two major modes, which are not equally accessible. One of these two modes depends...

Mishlei 18-16 Giving Key Concepts The distribution of financial wealth in a community is affected by many factors, but ultimately it is Hashem who determines how much each of us possesses at any time.  And yet individuals are motivated to give some of their...

Mishlei 18-17 Prejudice Key Concepts In every community honest differences of opinion will arise from time to time regarding a controversial issue. Why do people choose one point of view or another? The right way to do this would be to dispassionately investigate all...

Mishlei 18-18 Arbitration Key Concepts When individuals get into arguments about the ownership of property, they generally turn to a judicial authority to resolve the conflict. However, there may not be sufficient evidence to point to a clear solution. In such case...

Mishlei 18-19 Brotherhood Key Concepts People who are granted the privilege of sharing their youthful years with brothers or sisters don’t give much thought to the powerful forces that can affect such a relationship. Hidden beneath the surface of comradeship and...

Mishlei 18-20 Sustenance Key Concepts All living creatures share a common need. Without food they cannot exist. In creating the world with all its miraculous diversity Hashem provided the particular type of food that each creature would need. Simple creatures are able...

Mishlei 18-21 Speech – Contrasts Key Concepts Many people are fascinated by their power of speech. They always find something to say because of the pleasure it gives them to hear the sound of their own voice. When someone is speaking he assumes that a listener is...

Mishlei 18-22 Good – Marriage Key Concepts The idea of טוֹב, good, is inherent in the existence of the world. The Torah tells us that each aspect of existence reflects the will of the Creator and, because it reflects His will, He called it טוֹב. Man was originally...

Mishlei 18-23 Wealth – Misconceptions Key Concepts Rich people and poor people alike are victims of the same fallacy. They overestimate the importance of financial wealth. As a result, they forget that the value of a person is not determined by how much money he has...

Mishlei 18-24 Friends Key Concepts Human beings are naturally drawn to form friendships and so most people agree that having friends is important to a person’s well-being. However, people have very different ideas about the role of friendship in a person’s life....

Mishlei 19-01 Innocence  Key Concepts Every person has his own perception of the moral and ethical standards that guide his actions.  Indeed, if he violates those principles, he feels some measure of guilt. That feeling is intensified if he realizes that others are...

Mishlei 19-02 Thought Key Concepts During the months of Elul and Tishrei people give a lot of thought to the feelings of guilt arising out of sinful behavior. And so, they pray to Hashem for the opportunity to make a fresh start. They resolve to concientiously work on...

Mishlei 19-03 Blame Key Concepts Because we live in a physical world, each of us is constrained by the environment in which we happen to live, including the family and culture into which were born. We do not get to choose the circumstances of our gift of life. But we...

Mishlei 19-04 Wealth – Relationships Key Concepts Mishlei teaches that excessive wealth can distort healthy social relationships and the same is true of excessive poverty. As a man’s wealth increases, he finds that people are drawn to him and that his circle of...

Mishlei 19-05 Speech – Falsehood Key Concepts When Hashem created the world, He chose the power of words as His instrument. The Creator then entrusted the privilege of speech to mankind, and it is up to us to respect this great gift by cherishing it and avoiding any...

Mishlei 19-06 Generosity – Expectations [Pesukim 19:6 and 19:7] Key Concepts When someone is blessed with good fortune, he has the opportunity to befriend others by helping people in financial need. Similarly, a person who is blessed with Torah knowledge has the...

Mishlei 19-08 Heart Key Concepts A person’s physical heart occupies a central and active role in the survival of his body throughout his lifetime.  It is also a metaphor for his mind, character, and personality, all of which are spiritual qualities that affect his...

Mishlei 19-09 Speech – Falsehood Key Concepts When Hashem created the world, He chose the power of words as His instrument. The Creator then entrusted the privilege of speech to mankind, and it is up to us to respect this great gift by cherishing it and avoiding any...