Maalot HaMiddot by Rabbi Yechiel Anav: what it is and its 24 chapters
Maalot HaMiddot (מעלות המדות), “The Virtue of Character Traits,” is an ethical treatise written by Rabbi Yechiel ben Yekutiel Anav in 13th-century Italy. It was first printed under the title Beit HaMiddot.
Quick facts
| Title | Maalot HaMiddot (“The Virtue of Character Traits”) |
| Author | Rabbi Yechiel ben Yekutiel Anav (Italy, 13th century) |
| First printed title | Beit HaMiddot |
| Chapters | 24, plus an introduction |
| Genre | Jewish ethics (mussar) |
Content
Each of the 24 chapters discusses a positive trait, its advantages and impact, and the drawbacks of its negative counterpart. The list includes items in the intellectual realm, such as knowing God and studying Torah, and interpersonal matters such as kindness and charity. The arguments are built primarily on citations from the Bible, the Talmud and earlier ethical works.
The 24 chapters
According to Sefaria’s titles:
- Knowing God and desecrating God’s name
- Loving God
- Fear of Heaven and honoring parents
- Torah study and fulfilling the commandments
- Kindness (gemilut chasadim)
- Charity (tzedakah)
- Prayer
- Humility and pride
- Modesty and immorality
- Shame and arrogance
- Faith and theft
- Integrity and deceit
- Compassion and cruelty
- Amicability and anger
- Reputation (a good name)
- The good and evil inclinations
- Repentance
- Wisdom and foolishness
- Wealth
- Diligence and laziness
- Contentment and gluttony
- Generosity and stinginess
- Proper conduct (derech eretz)
- Peace, and contention, gossip and slander
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote Maalot HaMiddot?
Rabbi Yechiel ben Yekutiel Anav, in 13th-century Italy.
How many chapters does it have?
Twenty-four, each devoted to a positive trait and its opposite.
Did it have another title?
Yes: it was first printed as Beit HaMiddot.
Sources
- Ma’alot HaMiddot, entry on Sefaria (description and list of chapters)