Acharonim
Ahavat Chesed by the Chafetz Chaim: the practice of kindness
A guide to the Chafetz Chaim’s Ahavat Chesed (1888): loans, hospitality, visiting the sick, wills, comfort and burial, with the Netiv Chesed commentary.
Works
The great works
What each classic book is, who wrote it, how it is organized and where to start reading it.
Acharonim
Bnei Yissachar by Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov: Shabbat and the festivals
A guide to Bnei Yissachar (1845), the Hasidic work of Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Shapira of Dinov on the mystical aspects of Shabbat and the festivals, arranged by months.
Acharonim
Daat Tevunot by the Ramchal: the dialogue between the intellect and the soul
A guide to Daat Tevunot (“The Knowing Heart”), the Ramchal’s dialogue between the intellect and the soul explaining from Kabbalah what God expects of man.
Acharonim
Degel Machaneh Ephraim by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Ephraim of Sudilkov
A guide to Degel Machaneh Ephraim (Koretz, 1810), a Hasidic work by the Baal Shem Tov’s grandson, arranged by the weekly portion and containing teachings heard directly from his grandfather.
Acharonim
Derech Hashem (“The Way of G-d”) by the Ramchal: what it is and structure
A guide to Derech Hashem, the Ramchal’s philosophical work on the purpose of creation, providence, prophecy and divine service: its four parts and its translation.
Geonim
Emunot VeDeot (“Beliefs and Opinions”) by Saadia Gaon: what it is and structure
A guide to Emunot VeDeot, Saadia Gaon’s first systematic presentation of the dogmas of Judaism: its ten treatises, Ibn Tibbon’s translation and the editions.
Rishonim
Iggeret HaRamban: the Ramban’s letter to his son
A guide to the Iggeret HaRamban, the Ramban’s letter to his son written in Acre in 1267: humility, modesty and the instruction to read it every week.
Rishonim
Iggerot HaRambam and Iggeret Teiman: the letters of Maimonides
A guide to the Iggerot HaRambam, Maimonides’ public letters, and the Iggeret Teiman (Epistle to Yemen): dates, place and first printing.
Rishonim
Kad HaKemach by Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher: what it is and structure
A guide to Kad HaKemach (“The Jar of Flour”), the book of ethics and faith by Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher: its sixty alphabetical chapters and its printing.
Acharonim
Kalach Pitchei Chochmah by the Ramchal: the 138 openings to wisdom
A guide to Kalach Pitchei Chochmah (“138 Openings to Wisdom”), the Ramchal’s systematic introduction to Kabbalah: dates, first edition and character of the work.
Acharonim
Kav HaYashar by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kaidanover: what it is, structure and influence
A guide to the Kav HaYashar (1705), the ethical and kabbalistic work of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Kaidanover: its 102 chapters, the meaning of the title, its editions and translations.
Acharonim
Kedushat Levi by Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev: structure and themes
A guide to Kedushat Levi (1798), the Hasidic work of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, arranged by the Torah portion and the festivals.
Acharonim
Keter Shem Tov: teachings of the Baal Shem Tov on the parashah
A guide to Keter Shem Tov (Zolkva, 1794), a collection of teachings attributed to the Baal Shem Tov on the weekly Torah portion.
Acharonim
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch by Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried: what it is, structure and translations
A guide to the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried’s abridgement of Jewish law (1864): its 221 chapters, its purpose, sources, commentaries and translations.
Rishonim
Maalot HaMiddot by Rabbi Yechiel Anav: what it is and its 24 chapters
A guide to Maalot HaMiddot, the 13th-century ethical treatise of Rabbi Yechiel ben Yekutiel Anav (Italy): its 24 chapters, each on a virtue and its opposite.
Acharonim
Maamar HaIkkarim by the Ramchal: the fundamentals of Judaism in brief
A guide to the Ramchal’s Maamar HaIkkarim: a short work on the fundamentals of Judaism that briefly covers the same concepts as Derech Hashem.
Rishonim
Menorat HaMaor by Rabbi Yitzchak Aboab: what it is and structure
A guide to Menorat HaMaor (“The Candelabrum of Light”) by Rabbi Yitzchak Aboab: its seven lamps, its popular purpose, its translations and the confusion with Alnaqua’s work.
Rishonim
Menorat HaMaor by Rabbi Yisrael Alnaqua: what it is and content
A guide to Menorat HaMaor by Rabbi Yisrael Alnaqua, a 14th-century work in simple Hebrew with practical rules and ethical guidance, and its distinction from Aboab’s work of the same name.
Acharonim
Noam Elimelech by Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk: what it is and its publication
A guide to Noam Elimelech (Lemberg, 1787), the classic work containing the teachings of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, recorded by his students and compiled by his son.
Rishonim
Orchot Tzaddikim (“Ways of the Righteous”): what it is, authorship and content
A guide to Orchot Tzaddikim, an anonymous book of Jewish ethics: its original title, the debate over its author, its structure and its first editions.
Acharonim
Pele Yoetz by Rabbi Eliezer Papo: what it is and structure
A guide to the Pele Yoetz, the book of ethics (mussar) by Rabbi Eliezer Papo in short chapters arranged alphabetically, on every aspect of daily Jewish life.
Tannaim
Pirkei Avot (“Chapters of the Fathers”): what it is, structure and how it is studied
A guide to Pirkei Avot, the ethical tractate of the Mishnah: its five chapters and the added sixth, the chain of transmission, the sages cited and its study on Shabbat.
Rishonim
Maimonides’ Introduction to the Mishnah: what it is and key facts
A guide to Maimonides’ Introduction to the Mishnah: a chronology of the Oral Law and its basic principles, with dates and first printing.
Acharonim
Reshit Chochmah by Rabbi Eliyahu de Vidas: what it is and structure
A guide to Reshit Chochmah (“The Beginning of Wisdom”), the work of ethics and Kabbalah by Rabbi Eliyahu de Vidas, disciple of the Ramak: its gates, its sources and its spread.
Acharonim
Sefer Chafetz Chaim: the laws of proper speech and their structure
A guide to the Chafetz Chaim (1873), Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan’s work on lashon hara and rechilut: Mekor Chaim, Be’er Mayim Chaim, its principles and appendices.
Rishonim
Sefer Chasidim (“Book of the Pious”): what it is, authorship and content
A guide to the Sefer Chasidim, the foundational text of the Chasidei Ashkenaz: its attribution to Rabbi Yehuda HeChasid, its complex authorship, content and editions.
Rishonim
Sefer HaChinuch (“Book of Education”): what it is, authorship and structure
A guide to the Sefer HaChinuch, an anonymous 13th-century work that explains the 613 commandments in order of weekly portion: its disputed authorship, structure and commentaries.
Rishonim
Sefer HaEmunah VeHaBitachon: the book of faith and trust and its authorship
A guide to the Sefer HaEmunah VeHaBitachon, traditionally attributed to the Ramban: the debate over its true authorship and what the consulted sources say.
Rishonim
Sefer HaIkkarim (“Book of Principles”) by Yosef Albo: what it is and structure
A guide to Yosef Albo’s Sefer HaIkkarim, by a disciple of Crescas: its three roots of faith, its relation to Maimonides’ thirteen principles, editions and translations.
Acharonim
Sefer HaMiddot by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov: what it is and structure
A guide to the Sefer HaMiddot (“The Book of Character Traits”) of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov: its two parts, its alphabetical order and its editing by Rabbi Nathan.
Rishonim
Sefer HaRokeach by Rabbi Eleazar of Worms: halakhah, ethics and gematria
A guide to the Sefer HaRokeach by Rabbi Eleazar of Worms: 497 paragraphs of halakhah and ethics, the section on repentance and its first edition (Fano, 1505).
Rishonim
Sefer HaYashar: the anonymous medieval ethical book
A guide to the Sefer HaYashar, a popular anonymous medieval ethical book (13th century): the debate on its authorship, its Aristotelian style and its first printings.
Rishonim
SeMaG (Sefer Mitzvot Gadol) by Rabbi Moses of Coucy: what it is
A guide to the Sefer Mitzvot Gadol (SeMaG), a 13th-century French work enumerating the 613 commandments on the basis of Maimonides: structure, sources and influence.
Rishonim
SeMaK (Sefer Mitzvot Katan) by Rabbi Isaac of Corbeil: what it is
A guide to the Sefer Mitzvot Katan (SeMaK), the 13th-century poetic abridgment of the SeMaG divided into seven parts, one for each day of the week.
Acharonim
Shaar HaKavanot by Rabbi Chaim Vital: the intentions of prayer
A guide to Shaar HaKavanot (“The Gate of the Intentions”), the sixth of Rabbi Chaim Vital’s eight gates, on the kabbalistic meanings of the prayers.
Rishonim
Shaarei Teshuvah by Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerona: what it is, structure and editions
A guide to Shaarei Teshuvah (“The Gates of Repentance”), the ethical work of Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerona: its four gates, its printing and its translations.
Acharonim
Shemirat HaLashon by the Chafetz Chaim: guarding the tongue
A guide to Shemirat HaLashon (1876), the Chafetz Chaim’s ethical treatise on the severity of lashon hara, companion to his legal book.
Rishonim
Shemonah Perakim by Maimonides: the Eight Chapters on ethics
A guide to Shemonah Perakim (“Eight Chapters”), Maimonides’ ethical introduction to Pirkei Avot: dates, printing and character of the work.
Acharonim
Shivchei HaBesht: the legends of the Baal Shem Tov (1815)
A guide to Shivchei HaBesht (“In Praise of the Baal Shem Tov,” 1815), the collection of legends about the founder of Hasidism and its two editions from Kopys and Berdichev.
Rishonim
Torat HaAdam by the Ramban: illness, mourning and recompense
A guide to the Ramban’s Torat HaAdam: laws of the end of life, burial and mourning, its four gates and the Shaar HaGmul on recompense.
Acharonim
Tzavaat HaRivash: the ethical will of the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid
A guide to Tzavaat HaRivash (1793), a collection of teachings of the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezritch presented as an ethical will.
Rishonim
Chovot HaLevavot by Rabbeinu Bachya ibn Paquda: what it is and structure
A guide to Chovot HaLevavot (“Duties of the Heart”), by Rabbeinu Bachya ibn Paquda: its ten gates, its message and its translations.
Acharonim
Etz Chaim by Rabbi Chaim Vital: what it is, structure and how it was transmitted
A guide to the Etz Chaim (“The Tree of Life”), the Kabbalah of the Arizal by Rabbi Chaim Vital: versions, eventful history and editions.
Rishonim
Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed: what it is, structure and themes
A guide to Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed: its addressee, its three parts, negative theology, its translations and the controversy.
Acharonim
Likutei Moharan by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov: what it is and structure
A guide to the Likutei Moharan, the main work of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov: its two parts, its editor and its printing.
Acharonim
Mesillat Yesharim by the Ramchal: what it is, structure and how to read it
A guide to Mesillat Yesharim (“The Path of the Just”), by the Ramchal: the stages of the baraita of Pinchas ben Yair and its role in mussar.
Rishonim
Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah: what it is, structure and how it is organized
A guide to the Mishneh Torah, Maimonides’ code of law: its fourteen books, the Raavad’s critique, its commentaries and its printing.
Acharonim
Nefesh HaChaim by Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin: what it is and structure
A guide to Nefesh HaChaim (“The Soul of Life”), by Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin: its structure, its themes and its place alongside Hasidism.
Acharonim
Pardes Rimonim by the Ramak: what it is, structure and how to read it
A guide to Pardes Rimonim, the major work of the Ramak: its thirty-two gates, its content, its editions, commentaries and influence.
Rishonim
The Sefer HaBahir: what it is, origin and content
A guide to the Sefer HaBahir (“Book of Brightness”): its attribution, its origin in 12th-century Provence, its structure and its ideas.
Geonim
Sefer Yetzirah: what it is, authorship, versions and content
A guide to the Sefer Yetzirah (“Book of Formation”): its attribution to Abraham, its date, its versions and the thirty-two paths.
Rishonim
Shaarei Orah by Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla: what it is and its influence
A guide to Shaarei Orah (“The Gates of Light”), by Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla: divine names and sefirot, the 1516 Latin translation and editions.
Acharonim
The Shulchan Aruch of Rabbi Yosef Karo: what it is, structure and how it is used
A guide to the Shulchan Aruch, the code of law of Rabbi Yosef Karo: its four parts, the Rema’s glosses, its critics and commentaries.
Rishonim
The Kuzari of Rabbi Yehuda Halevi: what it is, structure and arguments
A guide to the Kuzari, by Rabbi Yehuda Halevi: the dialogue with the king of the Khazars, its five discourses, its arguments and its editions.
The Zohar: what it is, structure, authorship and how it is studied
A guide to the Zohar: its structure, its Aramaic, the debate over its authorship (Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai or Moshe de León), editions and commentaries.
Acharonim
Tomer Devorah by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero: what it is, structure and how to read it
A guide to Tomer Devorah, the Ramak’s ethical treatise on the imitation of the divine attributes: its structure and its place in mussar.
Acharonim
What is Shaarei Kedusha: a guide to the gates
A guide to the structure of Shaarei Kedusha (“The Gates of Holiness”) by Rabbi Chaim Vital: introduction, three printed parts and the unprinted fourth.