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February 2007

Quotes from Pirke Avot

Pirke Avot, lit. "Chapters/Ethics of the Fathers," is the only nonlegal tractate of the Mishnah, included toward the end of Nezikin, the fourth of the six "orders" of the Mishnah (which is the codification of the Oral Law, based on biblical passages, recorded by Rabbi Judah HaNassi in 200 BCE, the end of 400-600 years of exegesis and teaching.). Pirke Avot is a brief, very accessible book, comprised, itself, of six chapters filled with the practical insights, moral advice, and spiritual sayings of ancient sages.

These sayings were translated by Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub, LCSW.

Simon the Just… used to say,
"Upon three things the world stands:
On Torah, on (Divine) Service, and on Deeds of Lovingkindness."
— Pirke Avot 1:2

Hillel used to say,
"If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
And if I am only for myself, what am I?
And if not now, when?"
— Pirke Avot 1:14

He (Rabbi Tarfon) also used to say,
"It is not your obligation to complete the task,
but neither are you at liberty to desist from it entirely…"
— Pirke Avot 2:16

Another teaching of Rabbi Akiva:
"Everything is foreseen, yet free will is granted;
By goodness is the universe judged,
yet all depends on the preponderance of (good) deeds…"
— Pirke Avot 3:1

Ben Zoma said,
"Who is wise? The one who learns from all people…
"Who is mighty? The one who subdues the evil inclination…
"Who is rich? The who who rejoices in his portion…
"Who is honored? The one who honors other human beings…"
— Pirke Avot 4:1

Rabbi Jacob used to say,
"Better is one hour of t’shuvah (returning/repentance) and good deeds in this world
than the whole life of the world-to-come
and better is one hour of spiritual bliss in the world-to-come
than all the the life of this world!"
— Pirke Avot 4:17

These "Spirituality Notes" are excerpts from our monthly E-newsletter. Articles are © JBFCS Rita J. Kaplan Jewish Connections Programs and may be reprinted free of charge as long as this credit line is included.

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