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© 2026 The Mishlei Podcast
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My name is Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss, and this is the hub for all of my shiurim (classes) on Sefer Mishlei, a.k.a. The Book of Proverbs! Generally speaking we will follow the approach to Mishlei outlined by Saadia Gaon who views Mishlei as a guide for intelligent decision-making in everyday life with the goal of maximizing long-term pleasure and minimizing long-term pain. Each shiur will typically focus on one pasuk (verse), which we will attempt to analyze on our own before turning to the meforshim (commentators). If you have any questions feel free to email me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thanks for listening!
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Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 17:13 - Mishleic Karma מֵשִׁיב רָעָה תַּחַת טוֹבָה, לֹא [תָמוּשׁ] (תמיש) רָעָה מִבֵּיתוֹ: Length: 1 hour 34 minutes Synopsis: This evening (1/12/26), in our Monday Night Mishlei shiur, we revisited a pasuk that I have taught many times in my high school Mishlei classes. As I had hoped, we not only rediscovered the core ideas I had previously emphasized, but also pushed beyond them, uncovering new nuances, fresh perspectives...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 25:13 - The Cool Emissary (Part 2) כְּצִנַּת שֶׁלֶג בְּיוֹם קָצִיר, צִיר נֶאֱמָן לְשֹׁלְחָיו וְנֶפֶשׁ אֲדֹנָיו יָשִׁיב: Length: 37 minutes Synopsis: This morning (1/8/26), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we began with a quick review of yesterday's approaches, then moved on to the meforshim. We were pleased to see them echo our ideas, and to see how differently they took the central mashal. I'm excited to see how our theory of...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 25:13 - The Cool Emissary (Part 1) כְּצִנַּת שֶׁלֶג בְּיוֹם קָצִיר, צִיר נֶאֱמָן לְשֹׁלְחָיו וְנֶפֶשׁ אֲדֹנָיו יָשִׁיב: Length: 45 minutes Synopsis: This morning (1/7/26), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we moved onto a new topic: shlichus! Our pasuk has a weird mashal and is structurally anomalous, but we were able to develop some fruitful approaches right away which coalesced into a unified approach with a couple of readily...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 17:12 - Better an Angry Bear Than a Foolish Fool פָּגוֹשׁ דֹּב שַׁכּוּל בְּאִישׁ, וְאַל כְּסִיל בְּאִוַּלְתּוֹ: Length: 1 hour 39 minutes Synopsis: This evening (1/5/26), in our first Monday Night Mishlei shiur of 2026, we learned a pasuk that was simultaneously easy, fun, and chock-full of ideas. It was in this pasuk many years ago that I discovered an important principle of Mishlei methodology, one that dictated the entir...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 25:12 - Rebuke as Valuable Adornments (Part 2) נֶזֶם זָהָב וַחֲלִי כָתֶם, מוֹכִיחַ חָכָם עַל אֹזֶן שֹׁמָעַת: Length: 46 minutes Synopsis: This morning (12/25/25), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we began by reviewing what we covered yesterday. We found support for one of our approaches in the Ralbag. We then resumed working on Metzudas David and came up with a nice idea that built off of the previous pasuk. We then took up Sa...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 25:12 - Rebuke as Valuable Adornments (Part 1) נֶזֶם זָהָב וַחֲלִי כָתֶם, מוֹכִיחַ חָכָם עַל אֹזֶן שֹׁמָעַת: Length: 48 minutes Synopsis: This morning (12/24/25), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we moved on to the next pasuk, which also involves gold and might be a continuation of the previous pasuk. We came up with several really nice approaches on our own. Looking forward to learning the meforshim tomorrow (בג"ה), beginning...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 17:11 - The Fate of a Rebel Without a Cause אַךְ מְרִי יְבַקֶּשׁ רָע, וּמַלְאָךְ אַכְזָרִי יְשֻׁלַּח בּוֹ : Length: 1 hour 24 minutes Synopsis: This evening (12/22/25), in our Monday Night Mishlei shiur, we learned a pasuk I was NOT very familiar with. Despite an unusually complicated-to-translate first half, we were able to develop several beautiful and practical ideas of our own. We were delighted to see connections to ou...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 25:11 - Golden "Apples" in Silver Filigree (Part 4) תַּפּוּחֵי זָהָב בְּמַשְׂכִּיּוֹת כָּסֶף דָּבָר דָּבֻר עַל אׇפְנָיו Length: 34 minutes Synopsis: This morning (12/18/25), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we spent one more day on this fundamental pasuk. We began with Metzudas David who (ironically!) we understood through the lens of the Rambam in the hakdamah of the Moreh (albeit different part). After going down a little ra...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 25:11 - Golden "Apples" in Silver Filigree (Part 3) תַּפּוּחֵי זָהָב בְּמַשְׂכִּיּוֹת כָּסֶף דָּבָר דָּבֻר עַל אׇפְנָיו Length: 40 minutes Synopsis: This morning (12/17/25), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we continued our analysis of this fundamental pasuk. We began by reviewing the Rambam we read last time, using a different translation. We gained some additional clarity, but came away with more questions than answers - par...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 17:10 - Frightening Rebuke and Thorough Beatings תֵּחַת גְּעָרָה בְמֵבִין מֵהַכּוֹת כְּסִיל מֵאָה: Length: 1 hour 33 minutes Synopsis: This evening (12/15/25), in our Monday Night Mishlei shiur, we learned another pasuk that used to be part of my high school Mishlei curriculum. I knew we'd arrive at some solid ideas; the question was whether we'd see any NEW insights. I'm pleased to report that we did! We developed a few ap...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 25:11 - Golden "Apples" in Silver Filigree (Part 2) תַּפּוּחֵי זָהָב בְּמַשְׂכִּיּוֹת כָּסֶף דָּבָר דָּבֻר עַל אׇפְנָיו Length: 30 minutes Synopsis: This morning (12/11/25), in our shorter-than-usual Morning Mishlei shiur, we spent the first half reviewing and refining yesterday's ideas, and the second half reading through the Rambam's understanding of our pasuk in the introduction to the Moreh ha'Nevuchim. Although we pick...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 25:11 - Golden "Apples" in Silver Filigree (Part 1) תַּפּוּחֵי זָהָב בְּמַשְׂכִּיּוֹת כָּסֶף דָּבָר דָּבֻר עַל אׇפְנָיו Length: 4 minutes Synopsis: This morning (12/10/25), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we began analyzing what is arguably one of the most important pesukim in Mishlei - at least, according to the Rambam. I've referenced this pasuk dozens of times but haven't yet given a shiur on it. This morning, after a more...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 17:9 - How to Make, Keep, and Ruin Friendships מְכַסֶּה פֶּשַׁע מְבַקֵּשׁ אַהֲבָה וְשֹׁנֶה בְדָבָר מַפְרִיד אַלּוּף: Length: 1 hour 30 minutes Synopsis: This evening (12/8/25), in our Monday Night Mishlei shiur, we took up a pasuk that featured some bizarre wording. Fortunately for us, this one had a lot of "ins" and we quickly developed several of our own approaches before learning two approaches from the meforshim. Unfort...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 25:9-10 - Why You Shouldn't Fight Dirty (Part 2) (ט) רִיבְךָ רִיב אֶת רֵעֶךָ וְסוֹד אַחֵר אַל תְּגָל. (י) פֶּן יְחַסֶּדְךָ שֹׁמֵעַ וְדִבָּתְךָ לֹא תָשׁוּב: Length: 30 minutes Synopsis: This morning (12/4/25), in our shorter-than-usual Morning Mishlei shiur, we continued reviewing the approaches from yesterday, drawing additional support and nuance from the Rishonim. The only truly new approach we tackled was Saadia Gaon, wh...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 25:9-10 - Why You Shouldn't Fight Dirty (Part 1) (ט) רִיבְךָ רִיב אֶת רֵעֶךָ וְסוֹד אַחֵר אַל תְּגָל. (י) פֶּן יְחַסֶּדְךָ שֹׁמֵעַ וְדִבָּתְךָ לֹא תָשׁוּב: Length: 46 minutes Synopsis: This morning (12/3/25), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we learned the sequel to the previous pasuk. First, Mishlei told us not to be quick to get into a fight. Now, Mishlei is telling us what not to do once we're in a fight. We came up with se...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 25:8 - Don't Be Quick to Quarrel, Or Else (Part 2) אַל תֵּצֵא לָרִב מַהֵר פֶּן מַה תַּעֲשֶׂה בְּאַחֲרִיתָהּ בְּהַכְלִים אֹתְךָ רֵעֶךָ: Length: 46 minutes Synopsis: This morning (11/26/25), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we continued learning the pasuk we started last week (but were delayed, no thanks to Sigmund Freud and stowaway sardines). After a comprehensive we review, we started learning through meforshim. No MAJOR brea...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 17:8 - The Charm of a Bribe אֶבֶן חֵן הַשֹּׁחַד בְּעֵינֵי בְעָלָיו, אֶל כׇּל אֲשֶׁר יִפְנֶה יַשְׂכִּיל: Length: 1 hour 36 minutes Synopsis: This evening (11/24/25), in our Monday Night Mishlei shiur, we learned a pasuk I've taught dozens of times. Despite its atypical structure, I consider this to be an excellent "starter pasuk" for people new to Mishlei. I knew we'd come up with great ideas. My only question was how many N...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 25:8 - Don't Be Quick to Quarrel, Or Else (Part 1) אַל תֵּצֵא לָרִב מַהֵר פֶּן מַה תַּעֲשֶׂה בְּאַחֲרִיתָהּ בְּהַכְלִים אֹתְךָ רֵעֶךָ: Length: 47 minutes Synopsis: This morning (11/20/25), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we learned another "straight-up advice" pasuk (the genre that seems to pick up in frequency in the final book of Mishlei). Once again, we were pleasantly surprised by how much analysis the pasuk leant itself ...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 17:7 - Societal Standing and Speech Incongruity עֲטֶרֶת זְקֵנִים בְּנֵי בָנִים וְתִפְאֶרֶת בָּנִים אֲבוֹתָם: Length: 1 hour 41 minutes Synopsis: This evening (11/17/25), in our Monday Night Mishlei shiur, we learned a pasuk with distinct translation crossroads. We came up with several nice approaches on our own, then turned to the meforshim who provided us with refreshingly different approaches! All the ideas were practical...
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Mishlei 25:6-7 - Self-Destructive Self-Promotion (Part 2) (ו) אַל תִּתְהַדַּר לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ וּבִמְקוֹם גְּדֹלִים אַל תַּעֲמֹד.(ז) כִּי טוֹב אֲמׇר לְךָ עֲלֵה הֵנָּה מֵהַשְׁפִּילְךָ לִפְנֵי נָדִיב אֲשֶׁר רָאוּ עֵינֶיךָ: Length: 29 minutes Synopsis: This morning (11/13/25), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we continued our analysis of yesterday's pesukim. After a quick review, we learned through four commentaries. Some of these contribu...
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