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Video class February 27, 2025 40 min

Shammai’s Wisdom: Torah, Action, and a Smile

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What can an ancient sage teach us about living meaningfully today? In this 40-minute deep dive into Ethics of Our Fathers (Pirkei Avot) Chapter 1, Mishna 15, Rabbi Heschel Greenberg unpacks Shammai’s timeless advice: make Torah a fixed part of your life, say less but do more, and greet everyone warmly. Discover how these principles balance discipline with kindness in our busy, digital world.

In this class

  1. 0:00Introduction: Welcome to Mishna 15
  2. 2:15Shammai’s Three Teachings Unveiled
  3. 4:30Make Your Torah Fixed: Time and Soul
  4. 7:45Exploring “Fixed” Torah: God’s vs. Yours
  5. 11:00Say Little, Do Much: The Simple Meaning
  6. 14:15Abraham vs. Ephron: Promises in Action
  7. 17:30Greet All with Joy: Shammai’s Warm Side
  8. 21:00Shammai’s Strictness: The Convert Stories
  9. 24:45Hillel vs. Shammai: Contrasts and Unity
  10. 28:15Digging Deep: Isaac’s Lesson on Goodness
  11. 32:00Moses and Aaron: Discipline Meets Mercy
  12. 35:30Shammai’s Power: Balancing Torah and People
  13. 38:45Conclusion: Living Shammai’s Wisdom Today

Part of the series Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers)