Episode Details

We're opening up Orchot Tzaddikim—"The Ways of the Righteous"—a medieval Jewish guide to character development that's part moral compass, part emotional deep-dive, and part "ancient therapist in book form." Written by an anonymous author who clearly had opinions (and probably a really intense journal), this classic Mussar text walks you through every human trait—love, pride, humility, jealousy, patience—and tells you how to polish your soul like a spiritual shoe shine. It's basically the ultimate how-to guide for becoming a mensch, one virtue at a time. In this episode, we'll explore why this book has been a self-improvement go-to for centuries—and how its advice still hits hard, even if you're not a 15th-century rabbi.