Happiness Lessons of The Ancients: The Torah
Dr. Laurie Santos and Sarah Hurwitz, author of "Here All Along" and former chief speechwriter for Michelle Obama, explore how ancient Jewish wisdom from the Torah offers scientifically-backed lessons for modern happiness, emphasizing other-orientation, gratitude, awe, and action.
Deep Dive Analysis
18 Topic Outline
Introduction: Ancient Wisdom and Modern Happiness
Sarah Hurwitz's Childhood Disinterest in Judaism
Rediscovering Judaism at Age 36: A Profound Revelation
Understanding the Torah: History, Mission, and Covenant
The Torah as a Moral Document and Its Continuous Reinterpretation
Core Jewish Values: The Three Inalienable Dignities
Judaism's Other-Oriented Focus: Obligations to Others
Distinguishing Tzedakah (Justice) and Chesed (Loving Kindness)
Tikkun Olam: The Action-Oriented Goal of Repairing the World
How Actions Can Precede and Shape Feelings
Ancient Roots of Gratitude Practice in Judaism
The Moda Ani Prayer: Morning Gratitude Before Self
Constant Gratitude Through Daily Blessings
Cultivating Awe and Radical Amazement in Everyday Life
Judaism as a Practice of Mindfulness and Presence
The Ethic of Non-Indifference: Noticing and Caring for Others
The Interdependence of Human Support: 'The Prisoner Cannot Get Himself Out of Prison'
Sarah's Personal Transformation Through Jewish Practice
7 Key Concepts
Torah
The first five books of the Hebrew Bible, viewed not as a historical or scientific document, but as a moral text articulating a protest against ancient Near East values, focusing on the vulnerable, and presenting a covenant for building a just society.
Three Inalienable Dignities
A core Jewish idea stemming from the belief that all humans are created in the image of God, which means every human being possesses infinite worth, all are equal, and each person is completely unique.
Tzedakah
Often mistranslated as charity, this term actually means justice and refers to the mandatory obligation to provide financial assistance to those in need, with an emphasis on empowering them without humiliation.
Chesed
Meaning loving kindness, this concept extends beyond simply being 'nice' and requires one's physical presence and deep support for vulnerable individuals, particularly those who are ill or in mourning.
Tikkun Olam
Meaning 'to repair a broken world,' this is a fundamental action-oriented Jewish concept that emphasizes the obligation of individuals to actively mend brokenness and improve the world they observe.
Radical Amazement
A concept described by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, representing a core Jewish sensibility to feel awe and wonder at the world around us, encompassing both grand natural phenomena and intricate small details of daily life.
Ethic of Non-Indifference
A core Jewish principle that states individuals cannot be indifferent to the struggles of others, but are obligated to notice, care for, and actively help those around them, rather than dismissing their problems.
8 Questions Answered
The Torah comprises the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, which should be understood as a moral document articulating a protest against the values of the ancient Near East, focusing on the vulnerable, and presenting a covenant for building a just society, rather than a literal historical or scientific account.
Judaism has continuously reinterpreted and reimagined its texts for over 2,500 years, similar to how the U.S. Constitution is reinterpreted, allowing for modern practices like women and gay people serving as rabbis, and evolving the meaning of concepts like 'an eye for an eye' to monetary compensation.
Judaism teaches three inalienable dignities, derived from the idea that all humans are created in the image of God: every person has infinite worth, all people are equal, and each individual is completely unique.
Jewish law is centered on obligations to others, particularly the vulnerable, mandating specific actions like financial assistance (tzedakah) and showing up with loving kindness (chesed) to support people in ways that respect their dignity and empower them.
Yes, Judaism suggests that actions can often lead to feelings; even if one doesn't initially 'feel like' being kind or showing up for someone, performing the action can generate those positive emotions and a sense of doing the right thing.
Judaism encourages a constant practice of gratitude, starting with a prayer (Moda Ani) upon waking to thank for life itself, and continuing throughout the day with specific blessings for everyday occurrences like eating or proper bodily function, fostering continuous appreciation.
Jewish liturgy and sensibility cultivate 'radical amazement,' encouraging a deep sense of awe and wonder at the grandeur of nature and the intricate beauty of everyday small things, fostering presence and appreciation for the world around us.
This core Jewish ethic dictates that individuals cannot be indifferent to the struggles of others but are obligated to notice, care for, and actively help those around them, rather than dismissing their problems as 'not my problem'.
14 Actionable Insights
1. Prioritize Actions Over Beliefs
Focus on what you do and how you act towards others, rather than solely on what you believe, as actions are central to living a meaningful life and strengthening character.
2. Act Even Without Feeling
Perform kind acts and show up for others even when you don’t initially feel like it, because the action itself can often generate positive feelings and reinforce good character.
3. Practice Constant Gratitude
Cultivate gratitude throughout your day, starting immediately upon waking by being thankful for being alive, and extending to appreciating the proper functioning of your body and other blessings.
4. Cultivate Awe & Wonder
Actively seek and notice the grandeur of nature and the intricate beauty in small, everyday things around you, fostering a sense of ‘radical amazement’ to combat a ’numb, checked out’ feeling.
5. Adopt Non-Indifference Ethic
Embrace an ’ethic of non-indifference’ by actively caring about and noticing the struggles of people around you, recognizing your obligation to help rather than remaining detached.
6. Be Present & Mindful
Practice mindfulness by being fully present in your daily life and interactions, stopping to notice blessings and expressing thanks, instead of being lost in thought and missing moments.
7. Support Others with Presence
Prioritize physical presence and a sense of urgency when friends or loved ones are struggling, visiting the sick, and showing up for those in mourning to offer deep, loving support.
8. Support with Dignity & Empowerment
Provide financial assistance and support to those in need as an obligation of justice, ensuring it’s done in a way that respects their dignity and empowers them, rather than humiliating them.
9. Mindful Speech & Communication
Be highly conscious of the impact of your speech, actively avoiding gossip, shaming others, or trying to embarrass them in arguments; instead, strive for kindness and less shaming in your communication.
10. Value Every Human Equally
Recognize and internalize the ’three inalienable dignities’ – that every human is of infinite worth, all are equal, and completely unique – and strive to value people equally regardless of their status, wealth, or fame.
11. Repair Brokenness (Tikkun Olam)
Actively work to repair brokenness in the world wherever you see it, fulfilling an obligation to improve society.
12. Reinterpret Ancient Wisdom
Engage with ancient texts and traditions by reinterpreting and reimagining them to find relevant moral guidance and meaning for modern life, rather than taking them as literal historical accounts.
13. Seek Help When Imprisoned
Recognize that when you are ‘stuck in the prison of your own sadness, anxiety, fear, loneliness,’ you need someone to help pull you out, and be prepared to offer that same help to others.
14. Connect with Ancient Inheritance
Seek to connect with ancient wisdom or traditions that have been passed down through generations to gain a sense of belonging, purpose, and meaning in your life.
7 Key Quotes
It's 4,000 years of crowdsourced wisdom from millions and millions of people who were basically pooling their very best wisdom on how to live a meaningful life, how to be a good person, how to cope with life's challenges, how to find joy, how to find spiritual connection.
Sarah Hurwitz
The prisoner cannot get himself out of prison.
Sarah Hurwitz
It's not just that the feeling leads to the action. Oftentimes, it's that the action leads to the feeling.
Sarah Hurwitz
It's like your gratitude comes before self.
Sarah Hurwitz
This is a moral document, right? It is articulating a certain moral sensibility. That's basically a protest against the values of the ancient near East where human life was degraded, where emperors and pharaohs and kings were worshiped and ordinary people were thought to be valueless.
Sarah Hurwitz
We don't value people equally. We value people differently based on their status, their net worth, their beauty, their likes, their fame. And so that idea of being created in the image and those three inalienable dignities is quite radical.
Sarah Hurwitz
Judaism isn't just about creed, it's about deed.
Sarah Hurwitz
1 Protocols
Daily Jewish Gratitude Practice
Sarah Hurwitz- Upon waking, say the 'Moda Ani' prayer, thanking God for restoring your life, emphasizing that gratitude comes before self.
- Throughout the day, say blessings of thankfulness at various points, such as before eating food and after going to the bathroom, to appreciate the proper functioning of your body and other daily blessings.