Spiritual Excellence
By Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
This series is dedicated to the memory of Yitzchak Hehrsh ben Daniel z”l, and Sara Rivka bas Yaakov Dovid, z”l.
This series is geared to all, from beginners to advanced. The series will focus on a close and slow reading of several classical works of Mussar (Ethical Exhortation), including “The Gates of Repentance” (Shaarei Tshuvah), “The Duties of the Heart” (Chovos Halevovos), “The Path of the Just” (Mesillas Yesharim), and “The Eight Chapters” (Shmoneh Perakim). Spiritual Excellence will be conducted by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman, and will be based on his translations of and commentaries to these famous works. Participants will begin with the study of “The Gates of Repentance”.
For any comments, questions or topic requests, please contact Rabbi Yaakov Feldman.
Introduction
Gate 1
A Biographical Sketch of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter
Rabbi Salanter's Innovations
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Innovations – Part 1
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Innovations – Part 2
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Innovations – Part 3
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Innovations – Part 4
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Innovations – Part 5
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Innovations – Part 6
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Innovations – Part 7
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Innovations – Part 8
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Innovations – Part 9
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Innovations – Part 10
Rabbi Salanter's Letters
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 1
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 2
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 3
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 4
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 5
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 6
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 7
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 8
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 9
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 10
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 11-12
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 13-14
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 15-16
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 17
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 18-19
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 20-21
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 22
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 24-25
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 26
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 27
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 28
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 29
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 30:1
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 30:2
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 30:3
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 30:4
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 30:5
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 30:6
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 30:7
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 30:8
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 31:1
- Ohr Yisroel, Rabbi Salanter’s Letters – Part 31:2
Prologue
Rambam's Introduction
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
- Eight Chapters Chapter 4:1
- Eight Chapters Chapter 4:2
- Eight Chapters Chapter 4:3
- Eight Chapters Chapter 4:4
- Eight Chapters Chapter 4:5
- Eight Chapters Chapter 4:6
- Eight Chapters Chapter 4:7
- Eight Chapters Chapter 4:8
- Eight Chapters Chapter 4:9
- Eight Chapters Chapter 4:10
- Eight Chapters Chapter 4:11
- Eight Chapters Chapter 4:12
- Eight Chapters Chapter 4:13
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
- Eight Chapters Chapter 8:1
- Eight Chapters Chapter 8:2
- Eight Chapters Chapter 8:3
- Eight Chapters Chapter 8:4
- Eight Chapters Chapter 8:5
- Eight Chapters Chapter 8:6
- Eight Chapters Chapter 8:7
- Eight Chapters Chapter 8:8
- Eight Chapters Chapter 8:9
- Eight Chapters Chapter 8:10
- Eight Chapters Chapter 8:11
Gate 1
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1 Introduction
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:1
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:2
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:3
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:4
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:5
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:6
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:7
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:8
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:9
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:10
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:11
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:12
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:13
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:14
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:15
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:16
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:17
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:18
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:19
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:20
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:21
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:22
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:23
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:24
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:25
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:26
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:27
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:28
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:29
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 1:30
Gate 2
Gate 3
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 3:1
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 3:2
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 3:3
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 3:4
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 3:5
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 3:6
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 3:7
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 3:8
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 3:9
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 3:10
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 3:11
- The Gates of Repentance, Gate 3:12
Gate 4
Introduction
- The Duties of the Heart, Introduction – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Introduction – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Introduction – Part 3
- The Duties of the Heart, Introduction – Part 4
- The Duties of the Heart, Introduction – Part 5
- The Duties of the Heart, Introduction – Part 6
- The Duties of the Heart, Introduction – Part 7
- The Duties of the Heart, Introduction – Part 8 (Conclusion)
Gate One. "The Wholehearted Acceptance of the Oneness of G-d"
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 1:1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 1:2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 1:3
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 1:4
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 1:5
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 1:6
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 1:7 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 1:7 – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 1:8
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 1:9
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 1:10 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 1:10 – Part 2
Gate Two: "Reflecting Upon Created Things
- The Duties of the Heart – Gate 2 Introduction
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 2:1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 2:2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 2:3
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 2:4
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 2:5 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 2:5 – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 2:6
Gate Three: "Serving G-d"
- The Duties of the Heart – Gate 3 Introduction
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 3:1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 3:2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 3:3
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 3:4 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 3:4 – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 3:5
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 3:6 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 3:6 – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 3:7
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 3:8
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 3:9
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 3:10
Gate Four: "On Trusting G-d"
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4 Introduction – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4 Introduction – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4:1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4:2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4:3 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4:3 – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4:4 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4:4 – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4:4 – Part 3
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4:4 – Part 4
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4:4 – Part 5
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4:4 – Part 6
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4:4 – Part 7
- The Duties of the Heart , Gate 4:5 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart , Gate 4:5 – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4:6
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 4:7
Gate Five: "Dedicating Our Actions to God"
- The Duties of the Heart – Gate 5 Introduction
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:3
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:4
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 3
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 4
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 5
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 6
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 7
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 8
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 9
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 10
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 11
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 12
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 13
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:5 – Part 14
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 5:6
Gate Six: "Surrendering to G-d"
- The Duties of the Heart – Gate 6 Introduction
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 6:1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 6:2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 6:3
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 6:4
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 6:5 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 6:5 – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 6:6
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 6:7
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 6:8
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 6:9
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 6:10
Gate Seven: "The Gate of Teshuvah"
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 7 Introduction
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 7:1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 7:2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 7:3
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 7:4
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 7:5 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 7:5 – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 7:6
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 7:7
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 7:8
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 7:9
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 7:10
Gate Eight: "The Gate of Introspection"
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8 Introduction
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:3 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:3 – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:3 – Part 3
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:3 – Part 4
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:3 – Part 5
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:3 – Part 6
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:3 – Part 7
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:3 – Part 8
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:3 – Part 9
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:4
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:5
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 8:6
Gate Nine: "The Gate of Abstinence"
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 9 Introduction
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 9:1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 9:2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 9:3
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 9:4
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 9:5 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 9:5 – Part 2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 9:5 – Part 3
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 9:6
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 9:7 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 9:7 – Part 2
Gate Ten: "Loving G-d Wholeheartedly"
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 10 Introduction
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 10:1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 10:2
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 10:3
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 10:4
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 10:5
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 10:6
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 10:7 – Part 1
- The Duties of the Heart, Gate 10:7 – Part 2
Prologue
Ramchal's Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:1
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:2
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:3
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:4
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:5
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:6
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:7
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:8
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:9
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:10
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:11
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:12
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:13
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:14
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:15
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:16
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:17
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 11:18
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:1
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:2
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:3
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:4
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:5
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:6
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:7
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:8
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:9
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:10
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:11
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:12
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:13
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:14
- The Path of the Just – Chapter 19:15