Mesechtas Avot

Mesechet Avot is a tractate in the Order of Nezikin that includes "milei d'chasiduta" - words of ethics.

It is customary to read Pirkei Avot during the summer Shabbats near Mincha prayer. According to Chabad custom (and Ashkenazi communities), the tractate is read on Shabbats from Pesach until Rosh Hashanah. In total, all six chapters of the tractate are recited in four cycles during these weeks. After each chapter, we say the statement of Tanna Rabbi Chananya ben Akashya: "Ratzah HaKadosh Baruch Hu l'zakot et Yisrael, l'fichach hirbah lahem Torah u'mitzvot" (The Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to give merit to Israel, therefore He gave them abundant Torah and mitzvot).

During summer Shabbats, the Rebbe would explain a Mishnah from each chapter. These explanations were later collected into the book "Biurim L'Pirkei Avot" (Explanations on Pirkei Avot).

About the Tractate

Name of the Tractate

Several explanations appear in the commentaries regarding the name of the tractate:

a. The name of the tractate was established based on the ethical teachings it contains, which are the "avot" (fathers/foundations) of the mitzvot, meaning fundamental principles for human conduct.

b. "Because the words of the early fathers who received the Torah from one another were arranged here."

c. According to what is stated at the beginning of Mesechet Bava Kamma, "Avot" hints that the matter is written in the Torah. Indeed, the Vilna Gaon's commentary on this tractate is characterized by bringing sources from the Torah for each Mishnah.

d. "He called this tractate by the name Avot, because in truth the sages are the fathers. As was said by Elisha 'My father, my father' about Eliyahu of blessed memory, and similarly the students are called sons..." meaning that the tractate is named after the sages who taught it.

Additionally, the tractate is also called "Pirkei Avot" because it is customary to study it chapter by chapter (unlike the method of learning other tractates where there is no established custom for a fixed pace and scope of learning).

Importance of the Tractate

According to the Meiri's version, Mesechet Avot is the first tractate in the entire Shas (Talmud).

The Rebbe explains that the reason for this is because this tractate is the source ("avot") for all other tractates, since the statements of the Tannaim in all tractates of the Talmud are in accordance with their methods of divine service, which are expressed in their statements in Mesechet Avot.

Learning Pirkei Avot on Summer Shabbats

The custom of learning Pirkei Avot is to read Pirkei Avot on summer Shabbats close to the Mincha prayer. According to Chabad custom (and Ashkenazi communities), the tractate is read on Shabbats from Pesach until Rosh Hashanah. In total, all six chapters of the tractate are recited in four cycles during these weeks.

The roots of the custom to read Mesechet Avot on Shabbat after Mincha date back to the Gaonic period, and it was established by Rav Sar-Shalom Gaon and Rav Saadia Gaon (Rasag) in memory of Moshe Rabbeinu who passed away at this time. Since on one hand we don't practice Torah study at the time when a great Jewish leader passed away, but on the other hand they didn't want to cause a great cessation of Torah study, they established the recitation of Pirkei Avot.

Another reason is to prepare the Jewish people for the holiday of Matan Torah by studying derech eretz, middot, and mussar, the subjects that appear in this tractate.

The mnemonic to remember the Shabbats on which we begin a new cycle of learning Pirkei Avot is "Nefesh": Nasso, Pinchas, Shoftim.

Regarding the recitation of Pirkei Avot when Isru Chag Pesach falls on Shabbat, creating a difference between Jews outside of Israel and Jews in Israel, the custom has spread among Chabad Chassidim to align with those outside of Israel.

The Rebbe's Instructions

Throughout the years, the Rebbe added various emphases in observing this custom:

a. Pirkei Avot is part of the Oral Torah, the study of which must specifically involve understanding and comprehension. Therefore, one should not be satisfied with merely reciting Pirkei Avot, but should study them in depth as is appropriate for Oral Torah. However, we do not demand that each and every person study in depth all the Mishnayot of each chapter every Shabbat, since it is difficult to require this, but one should at least learn one Mishnah in each chapter. This instruction is particularly relevant to Temimim (Chabad yeshiva students).

b. The recitation of Pirkei Avot should be from the Alter Rebbe's Siddur, and alongside it one should hold another book with commentaries on the Mishnah. Preferably a book with many commentaries, and only if there is no alternative – one should study with the basic commentaries, primarily Tosfot Yom Tov and Rabbi Ovadia of Bartenura.

c. The custom of learning Pirkei Avot should be publicized in synagogues, with the additions of in-depth study of at least one Mishnah with commentaries, especially for Temimim, as well as the custom to study on all summer Shabbats, not just between Pesach and Shavuot.

d. The study of Pirkei Avot should continue during the rest of the week as well.

e. The correction for someone who was not careful in learning Pirkei Avot is to influence other Jews to begin practicing this custom.

The Rebbe taught merit for those who do not study despite this being Oral Torah that depends on understanding and comprehension, since it is recited in direct continuation to the Mincha prayer.

The Rebbe's Explanations

• Pirkei Avot with Shaarei Avot, the Rebbe's explanations
• Chapter 1 Mishnah 12: "Love all creatures" - Likkutei Sichos Volume 2 page 315 (page 31) -
• Chapter 2 Mishnah 9: "Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai had five disciples" - Hitva'aduyot 5742 Volume 4 page 1960 (page 214) -
• Chapter 3 Mishnah 8: "Whoever forgets one item..." Likkutei Sichos Volume 34 page 24 (page 36) -
• Chapter 4 Mishnah 6: "Whoever honors the Torah, his body is honored by people" - Likkutei Sichos Volume 33 page 40 (page 52) -
• Chapter 6 Mishnah 2: "Anyone who does not engage in Torah study is called rebuked" - Sichos Kodesh 5722 page 592 -
• Moshe Shilat, Equal for Every Soul - Adapted explanations from the Rebbe on Pirkei Avot: Introduction • Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 4 • Chapter 5 • Chapter 6, on the Chabad Torah for Yeshiva Students website

See Also

• Biurim L'Pirkei Avot - by the Rebbe
• Pirkei Avos im Shaarei Avos (2005)

External Links

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Harel, The Connection Between Pirkei Avot and Redemption, 30 Nissan 5772 The Meaning of Pirkei Avot, in Rabbi Sholom Dovber Shapiro's weekly video program