Anger in Judaism is treated as a negative trait to be avoided whenever possible. The subject of anger is treated in a range of Jewish sources, from the Hebrew Bible and Talmud to the rabbinical law, Kabbalah, Hasidism, and contemporary Jewish sources.

In the Book of Genesis, the patriarch Jacob condemned the anger that had arisen in his sons Simeon and Levi: "Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel."

Some Bible commentators point to God's punishment of Moses, not allowing him to enter the Land of Israel, as being due to Moses's anger at the Jewish people. This anger caused Moses to forget the word of God, curse the Israelites, and ultimately bring death on himself.^{[citation needed]}

Restraining oneself from anger is seen as noble and desirable, as Ethics of the Fathers states:

"Ben Zoma said: Who is strong? He who subdues his evil inclination, as it is stated, 'He who is slow to anger is better than a strong man, and he who masters his passions is better than one who conquers a city' (Proverbs 16:32)."

Elsewhere, "Rabbi Eliezer says... Do not be easy to anger."

The Talmud also emphasizes the negative effect anger has on a person.

Anger will cause a sage to lose his wisdom, a person who is destined for greatness to forfeit it.