Orchot Tzaddikim (The Ways of the Righteous) in 10 Minutes

We're opening up Orchot Tzaddikim—"The Ways of the Righteous"—a medieval Jewish guide to character development that's part moral compass, part emotional deep-dive, and part "ancient therapist in book form." Written by an anonymous author who clearly had opinions (and probably a really intense journal), this classic Mussar text walks you through every human trait—love, pride, humility, jealousy, patience—and tells you how to polish your soul like a spiritual shoe shine. It's basically the ultimate how-to guide for becoming a mensch, one virtue at a time. In this episode, we'll explore why this book has been a self-improvement go-to for centuries—and how its advice still hits hard, even if you're not a 15th-century rabbi.