Middot - Character Traits

A Jew should see himself as part of God's own "special-unit" with special tasks which are full of challenge and bring satisfaction.

Part Nine of "Pathways in Character Development" When a person frees himself of exaggerated fears and fills himself with a healthy sense of confidence, he is saved from one of the sources of laziness.

Part Ten of "Pathways in Character Development" After initial repairs have been made comes the stage of fundamental improvement, fundamentally cleaning one's qualities of every speck of filth.

Part Eleven of "Pathways in Character Development" One who has internalized the quality of "Nekiyut" has developed the capacity of fine discernment, and therefore distances himself from anything even slightly resembling sin.

Part Twelve of "Pathways in Character Development" The desire to attain wealth is one of the strongest drives in man's soul, and special attention is needed if one wishes to clean himself of this tendency completely.

Part Thirteen of "Pathways in Character Development" It is not enough that one refuses to steal time and money from others, the mere thought of such behavior ought to strike one as repulsive.

Part Fourteen of "Pathways in Character Development" In order to be completely free from sexually immoral impulses one must work very hard. Yet, the more a person advances in cleansing himself of them, the more he frees himself from their enslavement.

Part Fifteen of "Pathways in Character Development" Just as one must be careful not to eat poison or substances which contain dangerous toxins, so too must one distance himself from forbidden foods, for they are poison for the soul.

1. Darkness Before the Miracles 2. How Many, And How Few 3. Spiritual Muscles 4. Think Before You Leap 5. The Chanukah Revolution

There exists an essential theological infrastructure grounded in the books of Torah luminaries such as the Rambam, the Kuzari, the Maharal, the Ramhal, Nefesh Hahaim, Rabbi Kook, and others. This edifice is not to be altered.