The Library

תַּנַ״ךְ Tanach The twenty-four books of the Hebrew Bible — Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim.

מִשְׁנָה Mishnah The foundational code of the Oral Torah, redacted by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. תַּלְמוּד בַּבְלִי Talmud Bavli The Gemara’s discussion and elaboration of the Mishnah (unvocalized). תַּלְמוּד יְרוּשַׁלְמִי Talmud Yerushalmi The Jerusalem Talmud — the Gemara of the Land of Israel, by chapter and halakhah.

מִדְרָשׁ רַבָּה Midrash Rabbah The classical aggadic Midrash on the Torah and Five Megillot. מִדְרָשׁ תַּנְחוּמָא Midrash Tanchuma The early aggadic Midrash arranged by the weekly Torah portions.

מִשְׁנֵה תּוֹרָה Mishneh Torah Rambam’s comprehensive code of Jewish law, in fourteen books. שֻׁלְחָן עָרוּךְ Shulchan Aruch Rabbi Yosef Karo’s code of Jewish law, in four chelakim. קִצּוּר שֻׁלְחָן עָרוּךְ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried’s concise digest of practical halacha. טוּר Tur Rabbeinu Yaakov ben Asher’s legal code, in four turim — learned with Beit Yosef. סֵפֶר הַחִנּוּךְ Sefer HaChinukh The 613 commandments arranged by the weekly Torah portion — root, law, and reason for each. חַיֵּי אָדָם Chayei Adam Rabbi Avraham Danzig’s digest of the laws of daily life (Orach Chaim). חׇכְמַת אָדָם Chochmat Adam Rabbi Avraham Danzig’s companion volume on the laws of Yoreh De’ah.

שְׁמוֹנָה פְּרָקִים Shemoneh Perakim Rambam’s philosophical introduction to Pirkei Avot, in eight chapters. הַכּוּזָרִי Kuzari Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi’s classic defense of Judaism, in five essays (Ibn Tibbon). דְּרָשׁוֹת הָרַ״ן Derashot HaRan The Ran’s twelve philosophical discourses on Torah and faith. עֲקֵדַת יִצְחָק Akeidat Yitzchak Rabbi Yitzchak Arama’s philosophical homilies on the Torah, in gates. מוֹרֵה נְבוּכִים Moreh Nevuchim Rambam’s Guide for the Perplexed, in three parts (Ibn Tibbon’s Hebrew). דֶּרֶךְ ה׳ Derech Hashem Ramchal’s systematic exposition of Jewish belief, in four parts.

מְסִלַּת יְשָׁרִים Mesillat Yesharim Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto’s classic work of mussar. אׇרְחוֹת צַדִּיקִים Orchot Tzadikim A classic anonymous work of mussar, structured as gates of character traits. תֹּמֶר דְּבוֹרָה Tomer Devorah Rabbi Moshe Cordovero’s work on emulating the divine attributes. חֶשְׁבּוֹן הַנֶּפֶשׁ Cheshbon HaNefesh Rabbi Menachem Mendel Lefin’s system of self-accounting and character refinement. אִגֶּרֶת הָרַמְבַּ״ן Iggeret HaRamban Ramban’s famous letter to his son on humility — read weekly by many. פֶּלֶא יוֹעֵץ Pele Yoetz Rabbi Eliezer Papo’s alphabetical encyclopedia of character and conduct. מִבְחַר הַפְּנִינִים Mivchar HaPeninim A classic collection of ethical maxims attributed to Ibn Gabirol. סֵפֶר הַיָּשָׁר Sefer HaYashar A classic work of mussar on repentance and the service of God (Rabbeinu Tam, attr.). חוֹבוֹת הַלְּבָבוֹת Chovot HaLevavot Rabbeinu Bachya ibn Pakuda’s classic on the inner duties of the heart, in ten gates.