Avot in retrospect: a summary of last month's blogposts

If you were away or busy during June, you may have missed all or any of the posts listed below. Do please take the opportunity to enjoy them at your leisure now.

Thursday 29 June: Can It Ever  Be Uplifting to Lower One's Sights? Yose ben Yo'ezer Ish Tzeredah urges us to "wrestle in the dust" of wise visitors to our homes. Can we bring this advice up-to-date for you in your own home?

Tuesday 27 June 2023: When Your Working Lunch Brings Its Own Reward: At Avot 5:22, disciples of Abraham are described as "eating" in this world while inheriting the world to come. Does this mishnah really refer to eating food?

Sunday 25 June 2023: Good Things, Good People, Same Headache: Building on the previous post (below), we ask whether the "ban" on discussing matters beyond our capacity goes further than we may first have imagined.

Thursday 22 June 2023: Bad Things, Good People: A Debate to Avoid? Rabbi Yannai (Avot 4:19) warns us that the classic argument over why had things happen to good people should be avoided.

Tuesday 20 June 2023: Speaking Stones: One Story, Three Views: Love midrash or hate it, Avot can give it deeper meaning. Here's a popular children's tale that isn't for kids at all.

Sunday 18 June 2023: Rambam on Humility: Has This Message Timed Out? A remarkable commentary by Rambam on Avot 4:4 calls into question the applicability of ancient wisdom in modern times.

Thursday 15 June 2023: Love Work -- Seriously? Shemayah teaches us to love work. What on earth can he have had in mind? 

Monday 12 June 2023: The Problem of the Prodigiously-Praised Professor: Avot is full of cautions about cultivating humility and avoiding pride -- but pride feels so good and is dreadfully difficult to shrug off.

Friday 9 June 2023: What Shall We do with the Noxious Neighbour? Distancing oneself from a troublesome neighbour is easy -- in theory -- but compliance with the guidance of Nittai HaArbeli at Avot 1:7 is no easy matter today.

Tuesday 6 June 2023: The Case of the Pious Prankster: What does Avot have to say about a nice guy, friendly and religious, who has a penchant for playing little practical jokes?

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Avot Today blogposts for May 2023
Avot Today blogposts for April 2023
Avot Today blogposts for March 2023
Avot Today blogposts for February 2023
Avot Today blogposts for January 2023
Avot Today blogposts for December 2022