Books

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1. Books that you can click on to purchase from various retailers. By doing so through this Web site the retailer makes a small payment to madrega which helps keep the project going.

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This page presents general Torah-related books as well as middot-related books. The middah-related books are in two lists: alphabetically and by middot. However, don't worry too much abour the format because once we have a great list of Torah-related books, this page will be re-designed to be easier to use. To add your book recommendation, go to the bottom of the page and add a comment with the book title, and how you find it useful.

Middot Books (alphabetical)

• 30 Days To Teshuvah - Rabbi Zvi Miller (based on teachings of R. Yisrael Salanter)
• Battle Plans: How To Fight The Yetzer Hara - Rebbetzin Heller and Sarah Rigler (great model for how to recognize when negative character traits are sparked and how to work against your Yetzer Hara at those times)
• Bridging The Gap - Avi Furtig (very powerful insights into Mussar philosophy and application - follows teachings of Reb Shlomo Wolbe z"l)
• Cheshbon Ha-Nefesh - Rabbi Levin of Satanov (process for 13 week daily practice)
• Chofetz Chaim Looks at: Middos, The Measure of Man, Bais Yechiel Publications
• Chovot HaLevavot - Duties of the Heart, Rabbi Bachya Ibn Pakuda, Feldheim (one of the classic Mussar books)
• Climbing Jacob's Ladder - Alan Morinis
• Everyday Holiness - Alan Morinis
• Faith and Trust - Chazon Ish (translated by Yaakov Goldstein)
• The Fire Within: The Living Heritage of the Mussar Movement
• (Artscroll/Mesorah Publications, Brooklyn,NY, 1987) - R. Hillel Goldberg (History of Mussar)
• The Gates of Repentence (Sha'arei Teshuvah) - Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerona
• Iggeres HaGra - The Vilna Gaon
• Iggeres HaRamban - A Letter For The Ages - Nachmanides
• Musar For Moderns - Rabbi Krumbein (advanced concepts in Mussar)
• Netivot Shalom al Moedim v'Midot (Hebrew Only) - The Slonimer Rebbe (Rabbi Shalom Noach Barzovsky)
• Palm Tree of Devorah (Tomer Devorah) - Rabbi Moshe Cordovero (Kabbalistic Mussar text)
• Path of the Just (Mesilat Yesharim) - Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (one of the classic Mussar books - also considered a classic Chassidic book)
• Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin Salant - Translated from German, written in 1899
• Rabbi Yisrael Salanter and the Mussar Movement - Immanuel Etkes (History of Mussar)
• Sichos Mussar, Chodesh Elul and Yomim Noraim, Rav Yechezkel Levinstein
• The Ways of The Tzaddikim (Orchot Tzaddikim) - Anonymous

Middot Books (By Middot)

Humility

• The Duties of the Heart, “The Gate of Humility”
• Orchot Tzaddikim, “The Gate of Humility”
• Reishit Chochmah, “The Gate of Humility”
• The Path of the Just, Chapters 22, 23
• Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, “Torah and Humility”
• Cheshbon HaNefesh, Humility chapter
• Shaarei Teshuvah, The Gates of Repetence, the 7th and 8th principles
• Musar for Moderns, Shiur 4 & 5
• The Palm Tree of Devorah (Tomer Devorah)
• Ohr Yisrael, Chapter 2, Letter 26

Patience

• Cheshbon HaNefesh, Patience chapter

Generosity

• Orchos Tzaddikim, “The Gate of Magnanimity,” “The Gate of Miserliness”

Strength

• The Path of the Just, Chapters 2-5 deal with Vigilence
• The Palm Tree of Devorah (Tomer Devorah), Chapter 6
• Ohr Yisrael, Letter 11

Trust

• The Duties of the Heart, “The Gate of Trust in God”
• Shaarei Teshuvah, The Gates of Repetence, in the 3rd Gate, XXXII
• Ohr Yisrael, Letter 24 on Faith
• Faith and Trust - Chazon Ish

Equanimity

• Orchos Tzaddikim, “The Gate of Joy,” “The Gate of Worry”
• Cheshbon HaNefesh, section on Equanimity, one of the Middot expounded upon Shaarei Teshuvah, The Gates of Repetence, Worry: the 5th principle discussed

Gratitude

• Shaarei Teshuvah (Gates of Repentence), In the Second Gate, IV
• Ohr Yisrael, Letter 25 Chovot Halevot (Duties of the Heart), translated by Feldman, page 68-70 on gratitude; or in the Haberman translation by Feldheim, pgs 161-165, in the Gate of Reflection (Sha'ar Beninah).
• The World Within by Rabbi Chaim Walkin, published by Feldheim, chapter 40, Gratitude
• Menoras Hamaor (The Light of Contentment) by Rabbeinu Yitzchak Abohav, translated by Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Reinman, on Jealousy (relates to gratitude)

Lovingkindness

• The Duties of the Heart, “The Gate of the Love of God” Orchos Tzaddikim, “The Gate of Love,” “The Gate of Hatred” The Palm Tree of Devorah (Tomer Devorah), Chapter 5 Shaarei Teshuvah, In the First Gate, the 17th principle