48 VIRTUES
English Translation by Rabbi Karyn Kedar
The study of the Torah [Bible] becomes transformational through the practice of forty-eight virtues: Through the practice of learning and listening. By speaking plainly. Through discernment of the heart. Through the practice of reverence and awe, humility and joy. By becoming pure. By deliberating with the wise, studying together with community and students. Through the persistent learning of tradition and text. By being mindful in business, in decency toward others, and by being measured with pleasure and with sleep. By lessening idle talk and minimizing foolishness. By becoming slow to anger. By the practice of kindness, while seeking faith in the wise. By accepting adversity. By knowing one’s place and rejoicing in one’s portion. By guarding one’s words and not claiming merit for oneself. By being loved, loving God, loving humanity, loving righteous deeds, and by loving the straight path. By embracing reproof when necessary. By not seeking honor, or being prideful in one’s learning, or boastful in making determinations. Through the sharing of the burdens of others and tipping the scale towards merit. By standing for truth and peace. By being disciplined in study. By asking, answering, hearing responding. By learning in order to teach and learning in order to practice. Through refinement of the wisdom of one’s teachers while contemplating what is heard, and always giving credit to one’s teachers – whoever credits a teaching to its author brings redemption to the world, as it is written: “And Esther said it to the king in the name of Mordecai.” {Esther 2:22}
Hebrew Text CLICK HERE