Self Awareness

Self Awareness

From Parsha Messages with Rabbi Yochanan David by Rabbi Yochanan David

May 30, 2026 · 6 min · Season 2 · Episode 16

About this episode

This episode discusses the importance of self-awareness in relation to theft and the underlying emotions that drive such actions.

The Parsha addresses the issue of theft, stating that a thief must confess and repay the victim the principal amount plus a penalty. When the Torah directs the thief to confess, it states, “he shall confess the sin he did.” The phrase “that he did” seems to be extra, and needs to be understood. The Beis Yaakov of Alexander explains that the phrase “that he did” emphasizes that the thief must not only confess to the act of stealing but also address the underlying jealousy that prompted the theft. The additional wording highlights the unchecked urge of jealousy as the true motivator for the act of stealing, and thus, an additional confession is necessary. We can understand this better by using an analogy of visiting a doctor. When you visit a doctor you don't merely want a prescription for your symptoms; we expect the doctor to identify and address the root cause of our ailment. Similarly, the thief should not only confess to the act of stealing but also confront the underlying issue, which in this case is jealousy. Consider a scenario where you feel slighted by a coworker at work, leaving you hurt without an opportunity to resolve it. Returning home, you might find your child…

People in this episode

Host: Rabbi Yochanan David

Topics covered

  • self awareness
  • theft
  • confession
  • jealousy
  • underlying issues
  • personal growth

Keywords

  • theft
  • confession
  • jealousy
  • self awareness
  • personal growth
  • underlying issues
  • emotions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Beis Yaakov of Alexander

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