I need to better control my thinking time. Too much has been given to antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and those who espouse those ideologies. You cannot convince me that they’re not racists, haters, and closed-minded bigots. Those people don’t get to direct my thoughts unchallenged. No ceding of space, within my mind or the world, to them.

Not that I’m going to put my head in the sand and pretend the danger from them isn’t real, but I want/need to counter disgust and distrust toward them with a more productive mindset and actions of my own.

Turn back their darkness.

I will explore and share the light that can come from learning about Judaism and about being Jewish (covering the religion, peoplehood, and culture, which is already an ultra-mini-lesson on what it is to be Jewish).

Today, I’ll start with a learning from the foundational text of Mussar, or Jewish ethics, which focuses on working towards perfecting one’s character. In Mesillat Yesharim (Path of the Just), Rabbi Moses Chaim Luzzatto (writing in Amsterdam in 1738) explains each middah (character trait), how to improve in it from where you are at this moment, and what can detract from bettering oneself. ‎

Chapter 4 focuses on the key middah of........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)