Acharonim

18th-century compilation of 17 sermons delivered by the Chida on the Shabbatot before Yom Kippur, Purim, Pesach, and Shavuot.

Ahavat Yisrael

20th-century essay on the prohibition of baseless hatred, by the Chafetz Chaim.

Cheshbon HaNefesh

Early 19th-century guide to self-improvement, modeled on Benjamin Franklin’s program of systematic refinement of 13 distinct character traits.

Davar BeItto

20th-century work by the Chafetz Chaim admonishing those who eat non-kosher food while traveling and encouraging them to maintain their standards of observance at all times

Iggeret HaGra

18th-century ethical will that the Vilna Gaon sent to his family before his planned immigration to Israel.

Kav HaYashar

Influential 18th-century collection of stories, ethics, and customs with frequent quotations from the Zohar.

Kuntres Chovat HaShemirah

20th-century essay on the power of speech and guarding one's speech, by the Chafetz Chaim.

Kuntres Sefat Tamim

20th-century essay on the prohibitions of lying, theft, and usury, by the Chafetz Chaim.

Ma'amar Torat HaBayit

20th-century work of the Chafetz Chaim on the importance of learning Torah during one’s free time.

Mesillat Yesharim

Widely-studied 18th-century work by the Ramchal, structured around a progression of ideal character traits quoted in the Talmud

Ohr Yisrael

Teachings of R. Israel Salanter, founder of the 19th-century Musar movement

Pele Yoetz

19th-century accessible work on fundamental ethical principles, organized alphabetically.

Sefer HaChaim

16th-century ethical work by Rabbi Betzalel ben Chaim of Friedberg, brother of the Maharal of Prague.

Shemirat HaLashon

19th-century ethical treatise on proper speech by the Chafetz Chaim, often printed together with his legal work on the topic.

Shenei Luchot HaBerit

17th-century encyclopedic compilation of ethics, mysticism, and law that profoundly influenced the development of Chasidut; also known as the Shelah

Shevet Musar

18th-century ethical work divided into 52 chapters, corresponding to the weeks of the year

Ya'arot Devash I

18th-century collection of sermons on ethical matters delivered by R. Yonatan Eybeschutz

Yesod VeShoresh HaAvodah

18th-century guide to prayer and ethics, based heavily on the Zohar and the teachings of the Arizal.

About Acharonim

Acharonim (“the later ones”) were leading rabbis and thinkers who lived in the 16th through 20th centuries.

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