The Ethics Podcast · Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

201

Do Your Job (2:20-21)

Oct 21, 2018

25:26

There are many excuses to shirk our spiritual responsibilities. In the final two mishnayos of Chapter 2, Rabbi Tarfon rebuts them one by one. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation […]

202

Answering the Heretics (2:19)

Oct 14, 2018

21:46

Rabbi Elazar Ben Arach was the prized student of Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai, but he chose to chart his own path in life and not to join the rest of his colleagues in Yavneh. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

203

Relationship or Ritual? (2:18)

Oct 7, 2018

18:42

What is the optimal relationship between man and God? How is man supposed to view himself? These questions and several others are addressed in Chapter 2, Mishna 18 of Pirkei Avos. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sponsorship: Please consider […]

204

The Ultimate Meritocracy (2:17)

Sep 17, 2018

20:22

In a short, succinct Mishna, Rabbi Yose shares timeless lessons regarding the proper way to treat other people’s money, how Torah greatness is a meritocracy, and perhaps the most central insight of Jewish spirituality. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

205

Choose Your World (2:16)

Aug 27, 2018

43:41

This mishna marks the first of three times in Pirkei Avos where the phrase “is removed from the world” is assigned to people who exhibit certain attitudes or behaviors. In this podcast we suggest a novel approach to explain that term. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

206

Tempering Temper (2:15)

Aug 20, 2018

52:44

In this Mishna, one of the most fascinating characters of the Mishnaic era teaches eternal lessons on how to deploy anger properly and how to ensure that our spiritual affairs are in order before we meet our Creator. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

207

Finding Your Magic Bullet (2:13-14)

Aug 6, 2018

33:17

Two thousand years ago the great Sage Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai instructed his five prime disciples to undertake a unique mission. This mission and their discoveries can still offer us life-changing wisdom. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please […]

208

Spiritual Natural Law (2:9-2:12)

Jul 16, 2018

43:12

Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai was the pivotal leader of the nation at a most vulnerable juncture of our history. His life story and his timeless lessons continue to inform and inspire nearly two millenia after his passing. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

209

Avoiding Deathpangs (2:8)

Jul 2, 2018

39:05

What is really yours and what are you merely a steward over for the duration of your life? In this mishnah, Hillel reclassifies ten things by pulling away the curtain and revealing what they truly are. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

210

Divine Karma (2:7)

Jun 18, 2018

15:03

In one of those life experiences we hope to never have, Hillel once encountered a skull floating on the water. His comment to that skull is enshrined in Pirkei Avos and serves as an invaluable lesson to us. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

211

A Tourist Visa to Heaven (2:6)

Jun 11, 2018

37:41

In the sixth mishna of the second chapter of Pirkei Avos, Hillel the Elder delineates the six levels of distinction, the means to achieve them, and their impediments. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider sponsoring a podcast […]

212

Safety in Numbers (2:5)

Jun 4, 2018

40:50

In chapter 2 we meet Hillel the Elder again. In this mishna we learn the secret of surviving judgement, the differences between how God and man judge, and hear a clarion call for repenting before we die. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

213

Getting God as your Advocate (2:4)

May 28, 2018

29:27

Imagine if you had God on your side in all your endeavors. Is there a better or more potent advocate? In this mishna we learn the formula how to get God to advance your interests. The steps are simple to learn but hard in integrate. – – – – – – – – – – […]

214

Forgetting to Sin (2:2-2:3)

May 7, 2018

45:10

In the second mishna of the second Chapter, Rabban Gamleil III offers some novel and surprising perspectives on work/Torah balance and avoiding sin. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to […]

215

Spiritual Cost-Benefit Analysis (2:1)

Apr 30, 2018

1:14:09

In the first mishna of the second chapter of Pirkei Avos, the great Rabbi Judah the Prince offers indispensable life guidance. Who was this transformative Torah giant and what are his invaluable eternal lessons? – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

216

Why God Maintains the World (1:18)

Apr 16, 2018

37:42

The finalmishna of the first chapter sounds very similar to its second one. In it we learn the three things upon which the world endures which is quite similar to the teaching of the three things upon which the world stands. In explaining the distinction we learn a fundamental principle about the relationship and interrelationship of God […]

217

The Virtues of Silence (1:17)

Apr 11, 2018

43:50

The next mantle holder of the office of the Nasi, Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel, teaches us powerful insights on how to become a greater and more perfect person. שמעון בנו אומר, כל ימיי גדלתי בין החכמים, ולא מצאתי לגוף טוב אלא שתיקה; ולא המדרש הוא העיקר, אלא המעשה; וכל המרבה דברים, מביא חטא – – […]

218

Remove All Doubt (1:16)

Mar 5, 2018

23:53

In this Mishnah, Rabban Gamliel the Elder provides us with a powerful lesson that, if observed, will empower our spiritual lives. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund […]

219

All Action No Talk (1:15)

Feb 12, 2018

28:35

In this concise teaching, Shammai the Elder manages to inspire and enlighten our understanding of accomplishing human greatness. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and […]

220

Discover You (1:14)

Feb 5, 2018

49:47

In the third teaching of Hillel the Elder, we discover timeless advice to maximizing life: If I am not for me, who will be for me; when I am for myself, what am I; and if not now, when? – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

221

Spiritual Persistence (1:13)

Jan 22, 2018

31:05

In his second consecutive teaching, Hillel instructs us regarding the proper attitude to spiritual development and persistence, and the grave consequences of spiritual stagnation. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation […]

222

How to be a Peacemaker (1:11-12)

Jan 15, 2018

41:31

One of the great legendary figures in Jewish history, Hillel, instructs us to follow the ways of Aaron: To love peace and to pursue it, and to love people and bring them near to Torah. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

223

The Two Elements of Leadership (1:10)

Jan 8, 2018

35:03

In the tenth Mishna, the leader of the Jews Shemayah, a descendent of the Assyrian king Sanchereb, teaches us about the work, leadership and politicians. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a […]

224

Ethical Judicial Conduct (1:8-1:9)

Dec 11, 2017

24:44

In the Second Century before the Common Era, the Jewish world was in an upheaval due largely to various splinter sects, such as the Sadducees and Boethusians, causing internal conflict and confusion among the nation. The two great leaders of the Jews at the time had many challenges on their hands. In this podcast we tell […]

225

Avoiding Bad Neighbors (1:7)

Dec 4, 2017

38:01

In the previous mishna we are instructed how to choose positive influences, in this one we are warned of the perils of bad friends and bad neighbors. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making […]

226

Selecting Mentors (1:6)

Nov 27, 2017

36:54

In the 6th mishna of Pirkei Avos, we learn about the importance of having good mentors and friends, and the prerequisites to make such relationships work. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making […]

227

Excessive Schmoozing with Women (1:5)

Nov 20, 2017

27:18

In the fifth mishna we learn about the proper ways to interact with others, especially those less fortunate, in a pious and peril-free manner. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation […]

228

Godly Intellect (1:4)

Nov 13, 2017

38:09

In the fourth mishna of Pirkei Avos, our sages offer three steps to accessing Torah. In our deconstruction of this teaching we learn about the nature of Torah and the unusual ways that we access it. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]

229

Fostering Lasting Relationships (1:3)

Nov 6, 2017

58:15

In following the previous mishna which distilled the life objectives to three tenets, Pirkei Avos proceeds to delve into each one individually. In perhaps the most difficult mishna of the book, Antigonus lays out how to fulfill “Avodah” properly. In this teaching we read a take on altruism and how to create deep, meaningful and […]

230

Three-Pronged Purpose (1.2)

Oct 30, 2017

50:44

The second Mishna in Pirkei Avos features a powerful teaching from one of the pivotal and legendary characters in Jewish History. Shimon HaTzadik (Simeon the Righteous), the Kohen Gadol who succeeded Ezra, enlightens us by teaching us that the world stands on three things, Torah, worship of God, and loving-kindness. What are these three things […]

231

Human Fallibility and What to do About it (1.1)

Oct 19, 2017

28:44

The first mishna of Pirkei Avos begins with attributing the first 900 years of the line of transmission of the Torah from Moshe at Sinai until the Men of the Great Assembly. The second sections is three teachings of those great men. What is the connection between these two parts and why was this chosen […]

232

Introducing a New Podcast on Pirkei Avos (Chapters of the Fathers): Eternal Ethics

Oct 19, 2017

5:21

Dear friends and listeners, I am pleased to announce the launching of a new podcast on Pirkei Avos, Eternal Ethics. Pirkei Avos is the book of Mishna dedicated to giving us the tools to maximize our life, both spiritually and materially. Remarkably, this ancient wisdom was codified nearly 2,000 years ago yet is relevent and […]

The Ethics Podcast · Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

The Ethics Podcast Â - הרב יעקב וולבה

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