Mishlei 28:15 - Lions, Bears, and Despots like Achashveirosh (Part 1)

Mishlei 28:15 - Lions, Bears, and Despots like Achashveirosh (Part 1)

Author: Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss February 25, 2026 Duration: 42:40

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!

Mishlei 28:15 - Lions, Bears, and Despots like Achashveirosh (Part 1)

אֲרִי נֹהֵם וְדֹב שׁוֹקֵק מוֹשֵׁל רָשָׁע עַל עַם דָּל:

Length: 42 minutes
Synopsis: This morning (2/25/26), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we took a break from our perek to learn a pasuk that we hope will shed light on Megilas Esther. On its surface, the pasuk addresses the effect of evil rulers on destitute people, but Reish Lakish uses it as an aggadic introduction to the Megilah. Today we developed our own approach and examined a few meforshim. Tomorrow, I’m hoping we’ll make headway on the midrash.
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מקורות:
משלי כה:יח
מצודת ציון/דוד
תרגום ופירוש רס"ג
מגילה דף יא עמוד א
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The Torah content for the month of February is sponsored by the Koffsky family in memory of Adira Rose Koffsky a”h, whose third yahrzeit is on the 11th of Shvat. Adira was a gifted writer, a deep thinker, and an exceptionally kind soul. I am grateful to have been able to call her my student.תְּהֵא נִשְׁמָתָהּ צְרוּרָה בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים (May her soul be bound up in the bundle of life.)

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Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss hosts The Mishlei Podcast, a series of classes dedicated to a deep and practical exploration of Sefer Mishlei, known in English as the Book of Proverbs. This isn't a theoretical lecture series; instead, the rabbi grounds the ancient wisdom in a framework articulated by the sage Saadia Gaon, treating the text as a timeless manual for making smarter choices. The central idea is that Mishlei offers a path toward increasing lasting fulfillment and reducing future regret, making its lessons immediately relevant to daily decisions and relationships. Each episode, or shiur, usually concentrates on unpacking a single verse, examining its language, context, and layers of meaning. Listeners will find a thoughtful, step-by-step analysis that connects the biblical text to contemporary challenges in work, character development, and personal growth. The pace is deliberate, allowing space for reflection on how these principles apply off the page. For anyone interested in Jewish thought, self-improvement, or simply gaining a more thoughtful approach to life's complexities, this podcast provides a structured yet accessible guide. You'll hear a teacher's passion for the material without pretense, focusing on clarity and real-world application. Tune in for a quiet, intellectual engagement with one of the world's most enduring collections of wisdom literature.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 692

The Mishlei Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Mishlei 17:4 - What the Evildoer and Man-of-Falsehood Listen To [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:17
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Mishlei 17:4 - What the Evildoer and Man-of-Falsehood Listen Toמֵרַע מַקְשִׁיב עַל שְׂפַת אָוֶן, שֶׁקֶר מֵזִין עַל לְשׁוֹן הַוֺּת:Length: 1 hour 42 minutesSynopsi…
Mishlei 17:3 - The Crucible of the Heart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:07
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Mishlei 17:3 - The Crucible of the Heartמַצְרֵף לַכֶּסֶף וְכוּר לַזָּהָב וּבֹחֵן לִבּוֹת יְיָ:Length: 1 hour 31 minutesSynopsis: This evening (9/29/25), in our Mo…
Mishlei 25:1-2 - Kavod Elohim vs. Kavod Melachim (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:58
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Mishlei 25:1-2 - Kavod Elohim vs. Kavod Melachim (Part 2)גַּם אֵלֶּה מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה אֲשֶׁר הֶעְתִּיקוּ אַנְשֵׁי חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה:כְּבֹד אֱלֹהִים הַסְ…
Mishlei 25:1-2 - Kavod Elohim vs. Kavod Melachim (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:59
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Mishlei 25:1-2 - Kavod Elohim vs. Kavod Melachim (Part 1)גַּם אֵלֶּה מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה אֲשֶׁר הֶעְתִּיקוּ אַנְשֵׁי חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה:כְּבֹד אֱלֹהִים הַסְ…
Mishlei 15:33 - Mishlei's Definition of Yiras Hashem (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:46
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Mishlei 15:33 - Mishlei's Definition of Yiras Hashem (Part 2)יִרְאַת יְיָ מוּסַר חׇכְמָה וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד עֲנָוָה: Length: 44 minutesSynopsis: This morning (9/18/…
Mishlei 15:33 - Mishlei's Definition of Yiras Hashem (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:25
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Mishlei 15:33 - Mishlei's Definition of Yiras Hashem (Part 1)יִרְאַת יְיָ מוּסַר חׇכְמָה וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד עֲנָוָה: Length: 47 minutesSynopsis: This morning (9/17/…
Mishlei 17:2 - Intelligent Servant vs. Embarrassing Son [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:48
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Mishlei 17:2 - Intelligent Servant vs. Embarrassing Sonעֶבֶד מַשְׂכִּיל יִמְשֹׁל בְּבֵן מֵבִישׁ וּבְתוֹךְ אַחִים יַחֲלֹק נַחֲלָה:Length: 1 hour 42 minutesSynopsis…
Mishlei 15:32 - The Consequences of Loosening or Negating Mussar (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:56
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Mishlei 15:32 - The Consequences of Loosening or Negating Mussar (Part 2)פּוֹרֵעַ מוּסָר מוֹאֵס נַפְשׁוֹ וְשׁוֹמֵעַ תּוֹכַחַת קוֹנֶה לֵּב:Length: 30 minutesSynops…
Mishlei 15:32 - The Consequences of Loosening or Negating Mussar (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:28
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Mishlei 15:32 - The Consequences of Loosening or Negating Mussar (Part 1)פּוֹרֵעַ מוּסָר מוֹאֵס נַפְשׁוֹ וְשׁוֹמֵעַ תּוֹכַחַת קוֹנֶה לֵּב:Length: 43 minutesSynops…
Mishlei 17:1 - A Dry Piece of Bread vs. a House Filled with Meat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:15
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Mishlei 17:1 - A Dry Piece of Bread vs. a House Filled with Meatטוֹב פַּת חֲרֵבָה וְשַׁלְוָה בָהּ, מִבַּיִת מָלֵא זִבְחֵי רִיב:Length: 1 hour 42 minutesSynopsis:…