Mishlei returns time after time, to the imagery of an attractive, seductive woman who leads the "son" astray from his pursuit of wisdom.

Today we deal with 3 themes

1. 3 Generations. The speaker, possibly King Solomon, speaks of messages that he heard from his father that he is passing down to his son. This is a deeply touching image.

2. The Joy of Torah

3. The metaphor of the necklace and the wreath/crown - Mishlei repeatedly speaks of wisdom as jewellery. What does that intend to indicate?

Today we discuss several features of Mishlei:

1. The engagement with a Judaism that is far wider than ritual moments and encompasses all avenues of life

2. That Mishlei incentivizes the path of Torah

3. We speak of a fascinating intertextual polemic about the "Tree of Life"

We address two themes:

1. The notion of parent and child; wisdom which comes through the family, through sage adavice rather than direct divine revelation

2. The presentation of choices and consequences; good paths and bad paths; straight and crooked.

Today we discuss 1:7 - "The beginning of wisdom is fear of God"

We start Mishlei today - Proverbs.

What is this book about? Who wrote it? What is a "mashal" or a "proverb"?

Today we introduce the sefer.

This chapter has 2 stanzas.

1. The victory of the righteous, their joy and dance

2. A battle of justice against the forces of evil and regimes of violence

Both are enacted by the "hassidim" - the ethical, pious and righteous.

We wake up every morning and celebrate the wonderful world we inhabit.

Chapter 147 is a weave of intersecting harmonious themes that blend to praise God.