Displaying 11 - 20 of 290
Sharp Discussion with Students - Middah Pipul HaTalmidim
"Rabbi Hama son of Rabbi Hanina said: What is implied by the verse 'Iron sharpens iron' (Proverbs 27:17) It tells you that just as one piece of iron sharpens another, so two scholars sharpen each other's mind by discussion of the Law." (Sefer Ha Aggadah - Legends of the Jews, 428:260)
Sharpening the Wisdom of One's Teacher - Middah Machkim et Rabo
"A wise person is a student who makes his/her teacher wiser." (Chaggigah 14a)
Slowness to Anger - Middah Erech Apayim
"Be not quick to anger, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools!" (Ecclesiastes 7,9)
Studying in Order to Perform Mitzvot - Middah Lomed al Manat La'asot
"The first virtue of wisdom is silence; the second hearing; the third memory; and the fourth action." (Moshe ben Ezra, 11th century Spanish poet and philosopher)
Studying in Order to Teach - Middah Lomed al Manat Lelamed
Lomed al Manat Lelamed translates as "Studying in order to teach." Lomed and Lamed come from the same Hebrew root lamed-mem-dalet, which means both "to study" and "to teach."
The Study of Torah - Middah Talmud
Talmud translates as "the study of Torah." The word Talmud comes from the Hebrew root lamed-mem-dalet meaning "to learn."
To Attend to the Sages - Middah Shimush Chachamim
Shimush Chachamim means "to attend to the Sages." Shimush comes from the Hebrew root shin-mem-shin and means "to serve" or "to attend." A related word is shamash—the servant candle used to kindle the lights of the Hanukkiah—the Hanukkah menorah. Chachamim translates as "sages" and usually refers to the rabbis of the Talmud. The word Chachamim is the plural form of chacham, coming from the Hebrew root chet-chaf-mem meaning "wisdom."
To Determine Exactly what One Hears - Middah Mechavayn et Sh'muato
Mechavayn et sh'muato means "to determine exactly what one hears." The root of mechavayn is chaf-vav-nun, which means "to determine exactly" or "to be firm." Sh'muato has as its root shin-mem-ayin and means "to listen" or "to hear."
To Learn by Repetition - Middah Mishnah
Mishnah comes from the Hebrew root shin-nun-hey which means "to repeat." The word mishnah, influenced by Aramaic, took on the meaning "to learn." One can translate mishnah as "to learn by repetition." The middah—Jewish value—of mishnah means both "the study of Scripture" (the Written Law, which is Torah) and "the study of Mishnah" (the Oral Law).
To Share the Burden with One's Friend - Middah Nosay B'ol Im Chavayro
The phrase nosay b'ol im chavayro means "to share the burden with one's friend." Nosay is based on the Hebrew root nun-sin-aleph that means "to lift up" or "to carry." The word ol means "yoke" or "burden." Im means "with" and chavayro translates as "one's friend."