Rishonim
Bechinat Olam
14th-century poem about the unpredictable nature of the world and the paths that lead to the world to come.
Iggeret HaRamban
13th-century letter attributed to Nachmanides instructing his son to live a life of humility, recited by many on a weekly basis.
Kad HaKemach
14th-century encyclopedia of select character traits, holidays, and commandments, incorporating commentary on the books of Job, Jonah, and Esther.
Letter from Ramban to his Son
13th-century letter of Nachmanides to his son focusing on the value of chastity, incorporated in the will of a figure named Shlomo ben Yitzchak.
Ma'alot HaMiddot
13th-century Italian ethical treatise that discusses 24 positive character traits
Menorat HaMaor
14th-century work by Rabbi Yisrael Alnaqua with practical legal instructions, ethical guidance, and discourses on the significance behind commandments.
Mivchar HaPeninim
11th-century collection of short maxims arranged according to behavioral categories, originally composed in Arabic.
Orchot Chaim L'HaRosh
14th-century work of short maxims on living an ethical life, composed by the Rosh for his children.
Orchot Tzadikim
15th-century work following the structure of "The Improvement of the Moral Qualities,” based upon insights from Maimonides and others.
Sefer HaYashar
Popular 13th or 14th-century ethical book based on the philosophical work “Duties of the Heart.”
Sefer HaYirah
Short 13th-century essay attributed to Rabbeinu Yonah Gerondi describing how one should act from the time they wake up in the morning and throughout the day.
Sha'ar HaGemul of the Ramban
13th-century treatise on the world to come, reward, and punishment; the last chapter of Ramban’s legal work, Torat HaAdam
Sha'arei Teshuvah
Popular 13th-century work of Rabbeinu Yonah Gerondi on repentance, punishment, and forgiveness.
Shekel HaKodesh
12th-century rhyming work of short maxims based on Mivchar HaPeninim.
The Improvement of the Moral Qualities
11th-century accessible analysis of 20 personality traits divided by the senses to which they correspond.
Tomer Devorah
16th-century kabbalistic and ethical treatise by R. Moses Cordovero with a focus on the concept of imitating God
Yesod HaTeshuvah
Short and practical guide on how to begin repentance, attributed to 13th-century scholar Rabbenu Yonah Gerondi
Yesod HaYirah
Short poetic work similar in style to and often printed together with "Shekel HaKodesh."
About Rishonim
Rishonim (“the first ones”) were leading rabbis and thinkers who lived in the 11th through 15th centuries.
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