Do not be lazy in reciting the Blessing of the Moon, as this is a most delightful prayer for Heaven. From the time of the Exodus from Egypt until the destruction of the Temple, God dwelt amongst us in the Tabernacle and Temple, and was close to us. This is what is called the Shechina (God’s neighboring Presence). Now, when we sanctify the New Moon, God again draws His Shechina near to us. How can we not be diligent and careful that we do not omit this blessing? For if Israel did not merit anything other than receiving the Shechina but once a month with this prayer, this would be enough!
Do nothing to mislead people or that would cause them to joke about. For it is the manner of the ignorant masses to latch onto the mistakes and the bad things people do, yet they disregard the good in people.
Never make fun of your father or mother nor minimize their honor, and do not cause them any pain or distress. Honor them as much as you can while they are alive.
Do not look towards those who are wealthier than you. Rather, turn your sights to those less fortunate than you. By so doing, you will avoid jealousy and you will be happy with your own lot, and you will be able to conduct a God-fearing and Jewish life.
Do not speak perversely and with foul language for you will be judged for all what you say. Never raise a hand against your fellow man, even were he to curse your mother or father to your face.
Do not involve yourself in other people’s disputes and don’t take sides, for in the end they will reconcile and the side you took up against will be angry with you because you interfered in the argument.
Do not shame anyone or anything, for there is no one who does not have his hour or anything which doesn’t have its place or a circumstance where it is needed.
Pursue justice! For the one who pursues justice and righteousness and gives charity and is quick with his compassion – in words and deeds - will find life and justice and honor. Do not fail to give the half Shekel once a year. Each week and month donate as much as you can to charity. Each day, before Prayers, give at least something, however small, to charity. When you can, tithe your assets and profits. Make sure you always are stocked with food and other provisions and resources at home with which you can readily help the needy, whether they are dead or alive, poor or rich.
Do the Will of your Maker! Commit in your heart to discharge all what your Creator and Master has requested of you! Be as equally happy with your portion in life whether you have been allotted a little or much. Beseech God, at all times, that He turn your heart to executing His commandments. Cast your fate with God in all what you do. Do not be stingy with regard to expenditures for all the needs of the Sabbath or the Holidays. Try and bring these days in early, while it is still daylight, for this is honor for them. Enjoy them with good food and drink, and respectful clothing, and spend half the day in the Study Hall and the synagogue. Honor these days when they begin and when they end. Set a table at the end of the Sabbath.
Do not sleep a lot like a indolent person. Train yourself to rise early, at sunrise. Arise from your bed at the morning chirp of the birds in order to serve the Holy One, blessed be He.
Do not pray quickly nor swallow your words. Rather, have proper intent, and pray at ease, understand what you are saying, enunciating and slightly vocalizing each word.
נג. אַל תִּתְרַשֵּׁל בְּמִצְוָה אִם בָּאָה לְיָדְךָ וְתַעֲשֶׂנָּה לְשֵּׁם שָּׁמַיִם בְּלֹא אִיחוּר:
Do not procrastinate in performing a Mitzvah which falls in your lap. Do it right away and for the sake of Heaven.
נד. אַל תִּתְעַצֵל בְּבִרְכַּת הַלְּבָנָה שֶּׁאִם לֹא זָכוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלָּא לְהַקְבִּיל פְּנֵי שְּׁכִינָה בְּכָל חוֹדֶשּׁ דַּיָּם:
Do not be lazy in reciting the Blessing of the Moon, as this is a most delightful prayer for Heaven. From the time of the Exodus from Egypt until the destruction of the Temple, God dwelt amongst us in the Tabernacle and Temple, and was close to us. This is what is called the Shechina (God’s neighboring Presence). Now, when we sanctify the New Moon, God again draws His Shechina near to us. How can we not be diligent and careful that we do not omit this blessing? For if Israel did not merit anything other than receiving the Shechina but once a month with this prayer, this would be enough!
נה. אַל תַּעֲשֶׂה דָּבָר שֶּׁיַּלְעִיגוּ הַבְּרִיּוֹת, שֶּׁדַּרְכָּם לְהַעֲלִים הַטּוֹבוֹת וּלְגַלּוֹת הָרָעוֹת:
Do nothing to mislead people or that would cause them to joke about. For it is the manner of the ignorant masses to latch onto the mistakes and the bad things people do, yet they disregard the good in people.
נו. אַל תַּקְלֶה אָבִיךָ וְאִמְּךָ, וְאַל תְּצַעֵר אוֹתָם, וְכַבְּדֵם כְּפִי יְכָלְתְּךָ כָּל יְמֵיהֶם:
Never make fun of your father or mother nor minimize their honor, and do not cause them any pain or distress. Honor them as much as you can while they are alive.
נז. אַל יִהְיוּ פָנֶיךָ זְעוּמוֹת נֶגֶד עוֹבְרִים וְשָּׁבִים, וְקַבֵּל אוֹתָם בְּפָנִים מְאִירִים:
Do not be irate with wayfarers and your guests. Receive them with a cheerful face.
נח. אַל תִּשְּׁכַּח לְהַעֲנִיק לָהֶם צֵדָה וְלָעֲשׂוֹת לְוָיָה לָהֶם, וּתְנַחֲמֵם בִּדְבָרִים:
Do not fail to give them provisions for their journeys. Accompany them on their way, and comfort them for they are far from home and dejected.
נט. אַל תָּשִׂים עֵינְךָ לְמִי שֶּׁעָלָה לְעוֹשֶּׁר יוֹתֵר מִמְּךָ, אֶלָּא לְמִי שֶּׁהוּא תַּחְתֶּיךָ:
Do not look towards those who are wealthier than you. Rather, turn your sights to those less fortunate than you. By so doing, you will avoid jealousy and you will be happy with your own lot, and you will be able to conduct a God-fearing and Jewish life.
ס. אַל תְּבַהֵל לִקְצוֹף מִשּׁוּם דָּבָר. וְהַאֲרֵךְ אַפֶּךָ, פֶּן תְּאַבֵּד אֶת חָכְמָתֶךָ:
Do not be quick to anger about anything. Be slow to anger lest you lose your wisdom.
סא. אַל תּוֹצֵא מִמְּךָ עִקְּשּׁוּת פֶּה וְנִבּוּל פֶּה כִּי עַל כָּל דְּבָרֶיךָ תָּבֹא בְּמִשְּׁפָּט:
Do not speak perversely and with foul language for you will be judged for all what you say. Never raise a hand against your fellow man, even were he to curse your mother or father to your face.
סב. אַל תַּחֲזִיק כַּעַסְךָ עִם חֲבֵירְךָ יוֹם אֶחָד, וְתִכָּנַע לְפָנָיו לְבַקֵּשּׁ מִמֶּנּוּ מְחִילָה קוֹדֶם:
Do not remain angry with your fellow man for even one day. Beg forgiveness from him before he comes and asks forgiveness from you.
סג. אַל תְּדַבֵּר בְּצַוָּאר עָתָק וְאַל תָּעִיז מֶצַח שֶּׁלֹּא לְקַבֵּל עָלֶיךָ יִרְאַת שָּׁמַיִם:
Do not speak conceitedly and do not be brazen so as not to accept upon yourself the fear of Heaven.
סד. אַל תָּשִּׁיב לִמְחָרְפֶיךָ וְלִמְכַזְּבֶיךָ, [נ''א ולמבזיך] וְתָשִׂים יָד לַפֶּה וּשְּׁתוֹק, פֶּן יֵחַם לְבָבְךָ:
Do not respond to those who curse or revile you or those who call you a liar. Seal your lips and be silent lest you heat up your heart to anger.
סה. אַל תִּתְעַבֵּר עַל רִיב לֹא לָךְ, כִּי לְסוֹף הֵם יַשְּׁלִימוּ בֵּינֵיהֶם וְאַתָּה תִּשָּׁאֵר בְּכַעַס:
Do not involve yourself in other people’s disputes and don’t take sides, for in the end they will reconcile and the side you took up against will be angry with you because you interfered in the argument.
סו. אַל תִּתְגָּאֶה עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת, וְתִהְיֶה שְּׁפַל רוּחַ, וְכֶעָפָר שֶּׁהַכֹּל דָּשִּׁין בּוֹ:
Do not be arrogant with people. Be of a lowly spirit, and consider yourself like the dirt upon which everyone tramples.
סז. אַל תְּהִי בָּז לְכָל אָדָם וּלְכָל דָּבָר, שֶּׁאֵין לְךָ אָדָם שֶּׁאֵין לוֹ שָּׁעָה וְאֵין לְךָ דָּבָר שֶּׁאֵין לוֹ מָקוֹם:
Do not shame anyone or anything, for there is no one who does not have his hour or anything which doesn’t have its place or a circumstance where it is needed.
סח. צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדּוֹף, כִּי רוֹדֵף צְדָקָה וָחֶסֶד יִמְצָא חַיִּים צְדָקָה וְכָבוֹד. וְאַל יֶחְסַר מִמַּחֲצִית הַשֶּׁקֶל בְּכָל שָּׁנָה בְּפַעַם אֶחָד, וּבְכָל חֹדֶשּׁ וּבְכָל שָּׁבוּעַ כְּפִי מִסַּת יָדְךָ. וּבְכָל יוֹם לֹא תֶּחְסַר מַתָּנָה מוּעֶטֶת לְכָל הַפָּחוֹת קוֹדֶם תְּפִלָּה. וְאִם הִגִּיעַ לְמַעֲשֵׂר תִּתֵּן. וִיהִי טֶרֶף בְּבֵיתְךָ. בְּכָל אֲשֶּׁר תִּמְצָא יָדְךָ לִגְמוֹל, הֵן לַחַיִּים הֵן לַמֵּתִים הֵן לַעֲנִיִּים הֵן לַעֲשִּׁירִים:
Pursue justice! For the one who pursues justice and righteousness and gives charity and is quick with his compassion – in words and deeds - will find life and justice and honor. Do not fail to give the half Shekel once a year. Each week and month donate as much as you can to charity. Each day, before Prayers, give at least something, however small, to charity. When you can, tithe your assets and profits. Make sure you always are stocked with food and other provisions and resources at home with which you can readily help the needy, whether they are dead or alive, poor or rich.
סט. רְצֵה בַּאֲשֶּׁר יִרְצֶה יוֹצֶרְךָ, שְׂמַח בְּחֶלְקְךָ אִם מְעַט וְאִם הַרְבֵּה. וְהִתְחַנֵּן לְפָנָיו תָּמִיד לְהַטּוֹת לְבָבְךָ לְעֵדוֹתָיו. וּבִשְּׁאָר דְּרָכֶיךָ הַשְּׁלֵךְ עַל ה' יְהָבְךָ. וְאַל יִקְשֶּׁה בְּעֵינְיִךָ לְהוֹצִיא לִכְבוֹד הַשַּׁבָּת וְיוֹם טוֹב בְּכָל הַצָרִיךְ. וְהִשְּׁתַּדֵּל לְכַבְּדָם, וּלְקַבְּלָם מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם. וּלְהִתְעַנֵּג בָּהֶם בַּאֲכִילָה וּשְּׁתִיָּה, וְחֶצְיוֹ לְבֵית הַמִּדְרָשּׁ. וְכַבְּדֵהוּ בִּכְנִיסָתוֹ וּבִיצִיאָתוֹ, לַעֲרוֹךְ שֻּׁלְחָן בְּמוֹצָאֵי שַּׁבָּת:
Do the Will of your Maker! Commit in your heart to discharge all what your Creator and Master has requested of you! Be as equally happy with your portion in life whether you have been allotted a little or much. Beseech God, at all times, that He turn your heart to executing His commandments. Cast your fate with God in all what you do. Do not be stingy with regard to expenditures for all the needs of the Sabbath or the Holidays. Try and bring these days in early, while it is still daylight, for this is honor for them. Enjoy them with good food and drink, and respectful clothing, and spend half the day in the Study Hall and the synagogue. Honor these days when they begin and when they end. Set a table at the end of the Sabbath.
ע. אַל תִּישַּׁן כְּעָצֵל שֵּׁנָה רַבָּה, וְתַרְגִּיל אֶת עַצְמְךָ לְהָקִיץ בְּהָנֵץ הַחַמָּה, וּלְקוֹל הַצִפּוֹר קוּם מִמִּטָּתְךָ:
Do not sleep a lot like a indolent person. Train yourself to rise early, at sunrise. Arise from your bed at the morning chirp of the birds in order to serve the Holy One, blessed be He.
עא. אַל תִּתְפַּלֵּל בְּלֹא נְקִיּוּת כַּפַּיִם וּבְלֹא טָהֳרָה, כִּי תְּפִלָּתְךָ לֹא תְּהֵא נִשְּׁמַעַת:
Do not pray with soiled and impure hands or an unclean body, for your prayers will not be heard or accepted.
עב. אַל תִּתְפַּלֵּל כִּי אִם בְּכַוָּנַת הַלֵּב וּבְנַחַת, כְּדֵי שֶּׁיִּשְּׁמַע הָאוֹזֶן:
Do not pray quickly nor swallow your words. Rather, have proper intent, and pray at ease, understand what you are saying, enunciating and slightly vocalizing each word.
עג. אַל תִּשְּׁכַּח צוּר יְלָדְךָ וּמְחוֹלְלֶךָ, וּבְכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ דָּעֵהוּ וּתְבִיאֵהוּ [נ''א ותשווהו] לְנֶגְדְּךָ תָּמִיד:
Do not forget your omnipotent Creator. Direct your entire will and hopes to Him. Imagine that He is standing before you at all times.