The New Jew: A Field Guide

Hebrew

בְּעַנְוָה, בְּשִׂמְחָה, בְּטָהֳרָה,
בְּשִׁמּוּשׁ חֲכָמִים, בְּדִבּוּק
חֲבֵרִים, בְּפִלְפּוּל הַתַּלְמִידִים,
בְּיִשּׁוּב, בְּמִקְרָא, בְּמִשְׁנָה,
בְּמִעוּט סְחוֹרָה, בְּמִעוּט
דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ, בְּמִעוּט תַּעֲנוּג,
בְּמִעוּט שֵׁנָה, בְּמִעוּט שִׂיחָה,
בְּמִעוּט שְׂחוֹק, בְּאֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם,
בְּלֵב טוֹב, בֶּאֱמוּנַת חֲכָמִים,
בְּקַבָּלַת הַיִּסּוּרִין, הַמַּכִּיר אֶת
מְקוֹמוֹ, וְהַשָּׂמֵחַ בְּחֶלְקוֹ,
וְהָעוֹשֶׂה סְיָג לִדְבָרָיו, וְאֵינוֹ
מַחֲזִיק טוֹבָה לְעַצְמוֹ, אָהוּב,
אוֹהֵב אֶת הַמָּקוֹם, אוֹהֵב אֶת
הַבְּרִיּוֹת, אוֹהֵב אֶת הַצְּדָקוֹת,
אוֹהֵב אֶת הַמֵּישָׁרִים, אוֹהֵב אֶת
הַתּוֹכָחוֹת, וּמִתְרַחֵק מִן הַכָּבוֹד,
וְלֹא מֵגִיס לִבּוֹ בְּתַלְמוּדוֹ,
וְאֵינוֹ שָׂמֵחַ בְּהוֹרָאָה, נוֹשֵׂא
בְּעוֹל עִם חֲבֵרוֹ, וּמַכְרִיעוֹ לְכַף
זְכוּת, וּמַעֲמִידוֹ עַל הָאֱמֶת,
וּמַעֲמִידוֹ עַל הַשָּׁלוֹם, וּמַתְיַשֵּׁב
לִבּוֹ בְּתַלְמוּדוֹ, שׁוֹאֵל וּמֵשִׁיב,
שׁוֹמֵעַ וּמוֹסִיף, הַלּוֹמֵד עַל
מְנָת לְלַמֵּד, וְהַלּוֹמֵד עַל מְנָת
לַעֲשׂוֹת, הַמַּחְכִּים אֶת רַבּוֹ,
וְהַמְכַוֵּן אֶת שְׁמוּעָתוֹ, וְהָאוֹמֵר

Sephardi

b'anavah, b'simchah, b'tahorah,
b'shimush chachamim, b'dibuk
chaverim, b'filpul hatalmidim,
b'yishuv, b'mikra, b'mishnah,
b'mi'ut s'chorah, b'mi'ut
derech eretz, b'mi'ut ta'anug,
b'mi'ut sheinah, b'mi'ut sichah,
b'mi'ut s'chok, b'erech apayim,
b'lev tov, be'emunat chachamim,
b'kabalat hayisurim, hamakir et
m'komo, v'hasameach b'chelko,
v'ha'oseh seyag lidvarav, v'eino
machazik tovah l'atzmo, ahuv,
ohev et hamakom, ohev et
hab'riyot, ohev et hatz'dakot,
ohev et hameisharim, ohev et
hatochachot, umitrachek min ha-kavod,
v'lo megis libo b'talmudo,
v'eino sameach b'hora'ah, nosei
b'ol im chavero, umachri'o l'chaf
zechut, uma'amido al ha'emet,
uma'amido al hashalom, umatyashev
libo b'talmudo, sho'el umeshiv,
shomea umosif, halomed al
m'nat lelamed, v'halomed al m'nat
la'asot, hamachkim et rabo,
v'hamchaven et sh'mu'ato, v'ha'omer

English

what is being learned,1 an understanding heart, awe, fear, humility, happiness, purity, serving Torah scholars, having close friends, discussing and debating Torah with fellow students, calmly and carefully analyzing what you learn, knowing Tanach, knowing Mishnah, limiting your business activity, limiting your worldly activity, limiting your worldly pleasure, limiting your sleep, limiting your conversation, limiting your laughter, being slow to anger, having a good heart, having faith in the Sages, accepting suffering, being someone who knows his place—recognizing his strengths and weaknesses—who is happy with what he has, who makes a protective fence around his words by choosing his words very carefully, who does not take credit for his achievements, who is beloved by others, who loves God and loves people, who loves righteousness, who loves justice, who loves criticism because it will help him improve his ways, who keeps far away from honor, who is not arrogant with his learning, who does not enjoy when he must give a ruling in Jewish law, who carries the burden with his friend, who judges his friend favorably by giving him the benefit of the doubt, who places his friend on the path of truth, who places him on the path of peace, who thinks carefully and deeply in his studies, who asks questions and answers other people's questions, listens to his teacher and adds to what his teacher says, who learns in order to teach, who learns in order to know what to do, who makes his teacher wiser by asking good questions, who properly understands what he hears, and who says something in the name of the person who said it. In fact, you have learned: Whoever says something in the name of the person who said it2 brings redemption to the world, as it says

Hebrew

דָּבָר בְּשֵׁם אוֹמְרוֹ2, הָא
לָמַדְתָּ, כָּל הָאוֹמֵר דָּבָר בְּשֵׁם
אוֹמְרוֹ, מֵבִיא גְּאֻלָּה לָעוֹלָם,
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַתֹּאמֶר אֶסְתֵּר לַמֶּלֶךְ
בְּשֵׁם מָרְדְּכָי.

Sephardi

davar b'shem omro2, ha
lamadta, kol ha'omer davar b'shem
omro, mevi g'ulah la-olam,
shene'emar: vatomer Ester lamelech
b'shem Mordechai.

English

in the Book of Esther, "And Esther told the king in Mordechai's name" that Bigtan and Teresh were planning to kill King Achashverosh. This eventually lead to the miracle of Purim and the redemption of the Jewish Nation.

Hebrew

ז גְּדוֹלָה תּוֹרָה, שֶׁהִיא נוֹתֶנֶת
חַיִּים לְעֹשֶׂיהָ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה
וּבָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר:
כִּי חַיִּים הֵם לְמֹצְאֵיהֶם,
וּלְכָל בְּשָׂרוֹ מַרְפֵּא. וְאוֹמֵר:
רִפְאוּת תְּהִי לְשָׁרֶּךָ, וְשִׁקּוּי
לְעַצְמוֹתֶיךָ. וְאוֹמֵר: עֵץ
חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ,
וְתֹמְכֶיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר. וְאוֹמֵר:
כִּי לִוְיַת חֵן הֵם לְרֹאשֶׁךָ,
וַעֲנָקִים לְגַרְגְּרֹתֶיךָ. וְאוֹמֵר:
תִּתֵּן לְרֹאשְׁךָ לִוְיַת חֵן, עֲטֶרֶת
תִּפְאֶרֶת תְּמַגְּנֶךָּ. וְאוֹמֵר: כִּי
בִּי יִרְבּוּ יָמֶיךָ, וְיוֹסִיפוּ לְךָ
שְׁנוֹת חַיִּים. וְאוֹמֵר: אֹרֶךְ

Sephardi

7 gedolah Torah, shehi notenet
chayim l'osehah ba-olam hazeh
uva-olam haba, shene'emar:
ki chayim hem l'motz'eihem,
ulchol b'saro marpei. Ve'omer:
rif'ut t'hi l'sharecha, v'shikui
l'atzmotecha. Ve'omer: etz
chayim hi lamachazikim bah,
v'tomchehah m'ushar. Ve'omer:
ki livyat chen hem l'roshecha,
va'anakim l'garg'rotecha. Ve'omer:
titen l'roshcha livyat chen, ateret
tiferet t'magneka. Ve'omer: ki
bi yirbu yamecha, v'yosifu lecha
sh'not chayim. Ve'omer: orech

English

7 Torah is great because it gives life—in this world and in the World to Come—to those who learn it and do what it says. As it says in Proverbs: Because they—the words of the Torah—are life to the person who finds them, and they are a cure for his whole body. It also says there: The Torah will be a cure for your body and marrow for your bones, making them stronger. It also says there: The Torah is a tree of life for those who hold onto it, and those who support Torah learning are fortunate. It also says there: Words of Torah in your mind are like a graceful decoration for your head, and words of Torah spoken from your throat are a beautiful necklace for your neck. It also says there: Torah will give your head a graceful decoration and it will give you a crown of beauty. It also says there: Indeed, says the Torah, by learning me, your days will be increased, and years of life will be added to you. It also says there: Long life is at the Torah's right. If we learn Torah for the correct reason—because it is a commandment—it will give us long life in addition to wealth and honor. Wealth and honor are at its left. Even if we learn Torah for other reasons, and not only because it is a