Jewish Ethics

Limiting One's Involvement in Worldly Concerns - Middah Miyut Derech Eretz

Barbara Binder Kadden, RJE
"The former generations made the study of Torah their regular concern and their daily work their occasional concern, and they succeeded in the one and in the other. The recent generations have made their daily work their regular concern and their study of Torah their occasional concern, and they have succeeded neither in the one nor in the other." (Babylonian Talmud 35b)
Jewish Ethics

Knowing One's Place - Middah Makir et Mekomo

Marlene Myerson
"Mark well these three things, and you will not fall into the clutches of sin. Know where you came from, where you are going, and to whom you are destined to give an account and reckoning." (Akavyah ben Mahalalel, Pirkei Avot, 3:1)
sacred texts

Happiness - Middah Simchah

Marlene Myerson
Simchah translates as "happiness," or "joy." The word "simchah" comes from the Hebrew root samech-mem-chet which means "to rejoice," or "to be glad."
Jewish Ethics