Monday 30
May: Mysterious Manuscript from Maine: an unsigned
hand-written commentary on Pirkei Avot has been found in Auburn, Maine. Does
anyone know about its author or origin?
Friday 27 May
2022: Partygate, or When Lies Won't Work, Try Telling the Truth: there are seven
ways (Avot 5:9) to tell a wise man from an immature clod. One involves
acknowledging the truh. How does this apply to the British prime minister's
Christmas party scandal?
Tuesday 24 May 2022: Pirkei Avot: A Users' Guide. This is my new book -- three whole volumes dedicated to the Ethics of the Fathers and what an ancient Jewish ethical guide can teach us today.
Sunday 22 May 2022: Breakfast with Bachye, or When a Leader Leads Others Astray: how does one deal with proof verses drawn from the Tanach? Should they be allowed to narrow the focus of mishnayot of Avot?
Thursday 19 May 2022: More on mazikim. Many people still believe that demons exist, but they have no place in Avot according to the late Chief Rabbi Joseph Hertz.
Tuesday 17 May 2022: Rendering unto Caesar: Is there any
connection between Rabbi Elazar Ish Bartota's teaching about extreme charity
and a famous New Testament quote?
Monday 16 May 2022: Praying for Putin? A famous mishnah in
Avot tells us to pray for the welfare of the government. How far does this
apply?
Sunday 15 May 2022: Foundation of Faith. The late Rabbi
Norman Lamm's thoughts on Pirkei Avot have been edited by Rabbi Mark Dratch and
published by the OU.
Friday 13 May 2022: "How to handle a woman" -- or oneself? A surprise answer
in a rabbinical "Meet and Greet" session has some fascinating
practical repercussions for those who live by Avot.
Tuesday 10 May 2022: The steamship, not the cemetery: fighting fascism with
Avot. A slender 1945 translation and commentary on Avot by the
then Chief Rabbi of the British Empire sheds fascinating light on the Jewish
response to institutional evil.
Sunday 8 May 2022: Recommended reading: not so easy. A request for
suggestions as to which commentary on Avot one should read should not be
answered without first giving serious thought to what the prospective reader
really wants.
Friday 6 May 2022: Thinking, fast and slow -- the case of the charity
appeals. I received two appeals in the post, one of which looked
quite unmeritorious when compared with the other. Would a closer look change my
opinion?
Thursday 5 May 2022: Meiri on Avot: a new translation. Feldheim and Rabbi
Yehudah Bulman have combined to produce a handsome and highly legible English
translation of a venerable classic commentary.
Tuesday 3 May 2022: It's only worms. Pirkei Avot
features no fewer than three species of worm. Why, and do any of them have any
teeth?
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Avot Today blogposts for April 2022 here
Avot Today blogposts for March 2022 here
Avot Today blogposts for February 2022 here
Avot Today blogposts for January 2022 here
Avot Today blogposts for December 2021 here
Avot Today blogposts for November 2021 here
