Ethics of the Fathers
Pirkei Avot
Pirkei Avot — also spelled Pirkei Avos, and known in English as Ethics of the Fathers — with Rabbi Heschel Greenberg: 82 video classes, one mishnah at a time, and his two books of essays on Avot.
Why study Pirkei Avot between Pesach and Shavuot?
It is a well-known practice throughout the Jewish community to recite and study the Talmudic treatise known either as Avos (Fathers) or Pirkei Avos (Chapters of the Fathers) between the two festivals of Passover and Shavuos.
One of the reasons for reciting Pirkei Avos between Passover and Shavuos is to provide us with a means to prepare for the giving of the Torah during the Festival of Shavuos. By learning the instructions contained in this tractate that is devoted to “ethics and [refinement] of character,” one becomes ready to receive the Torah anew during Shavuos.
See also Shavuot and Sefirat HaOmer, the counting of the days from Pesach to Shavuot.
Why is it called Avot, “Fathers”?
Avos literally means fathers, which begs the question, why would the rabbis of the Talmud name this tractate that deals with ethics, “fathers?” Wouldn’t there be a more suitable name that more clearly describes the content of this book?
Books
11 chapters · free to read Essays on Pirkei Avos: Chapter One, Mishnah One On the opening words of Avos, “Moses received the Torah from Sinai,” there is a well-known question. Why does it describe Moses’ role as the… 10 chapters · free to read Introduction to Pirkei Avos (Biurim L’Pirkei Avos) Pirkei Avos essentially comprises five chapters. Chapter number six, which is in actuality a Beraisa, was added as an appendix to Avos. The…
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54:07 Essays
Essays on Pirkei Avos: Chapter One, Mishnah One
- Pirkei Avos 1:1 – A Lesson for Rabbis
- Pirkei Avos 1:1 – As It Is Taught in Heaven
- Pirkei Avos 1:1 – : Avos According to Pardes
- Pirkei Avos 1:1 – Earlier and Later Morality
- Pirkei Avos 1:1 – Joining Opposites
- Pirkei Avos 1:1 – One Recipient
- Pirkei Avos 1:1 – Refinement Through Torah
- Pirkei Avos 1:1 – Take and Give
- Pirkei Avos 1:1 – The Five Prerequisites
- Pirkei Avos 1:1 – The Order of Transmission
- Pirkei Avos 1:1 – The Prophet Sage
Introduction to Pirkei Avos (Biurim L’Pirkei Avos)
- Pirkei Avos – Attributes of the Soul
- Pirkei Avos – Dual Preparations
- Pirkei Avos – Prelude to Sinai
- Pirkei Avos – Preparation for Shavuos
- Pirkei Avos – Preparation for the Future
- Pirkei Avos – Sabbatical Ethics
- Pirkei Avos – Taste of Sinai
- Pirkei Avos – The Aleph, Beis, Gimmel of Judaism
- Pirkei Avos – Two Dimensions of Avos and Two Lev- Els of Torah Re- Newal
- Pirkei Avos – Whose Fathers?