The Astonishing Beauty of Rabbi Johanan

Exempla of the Rabbis, No. 222

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·March 24, 2026

222. Beauty of R. Johanan. Berakhot, f. 20a.

Baba Mesia, f. 84a. Midr. Hagadol, Gen.

Veyese, Vayyehi. Maase Buch No. 133

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Themes

Wisdom Light Humor Adam Eve Women

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Ben SiraKnowledge and Insight of SiraWe've all been there. Ben Sira, that ancient book of wisdom, dives right into that feeling, urging us to navigate the tricky terrain of shame and righteousness.Ben SiraLove a Wise Servant as YourselfIt's packed with advice on everything from how to treat your servants to, yes, even your daughters. Some of it might sound a little… antiquated to our modern ea Alphabet of Ben SiraThe Watchman Who Never SleepsThe letter Yud picks up exactly where the previous proverb left off, and it doesn't hold back: "The watchman does not sleep. When she is a minor, lest she be se Alphabet of Ben SiraThe Folly of Marrying an Old WifeThe letter Lamed marks a sharp turn. After several proverbs about daughters, Ben Sira pivots to marriage itself: "Do not sleep in your youth, and when you are o Alphabet of Ben SiraEscaping a Wife With a Sharp TongueThe letter Nun delivers a proverb about the domestic nightmare the Alphabet of Ben Sira seems to fear most, not infidelity, not poverty, but a wife who won't st Alphabet of Ben SiraNever Tell Your Wife Where the Money Is"Acquire for yourself gold coins, and all money, but do not tell your wife where the money is, even if she is good." With that, the alphabetical proverbs of the