Pirkei Avot: A Banquet of Wisdom

August 14, 2012

This sentence introduces Pirkei Avot, often translated Chapters of the Fathers or Ethics of the Fathers but possibly better rendered Fundamental Principles. Pirkei Avot contains some of the best-known sayings of Judaism besides those recorded in the Bible. Some of these sayings are attributed to sages who lived as early as 300 BC, so it stands to reason that Jesus and his contemporaries were well versed in them, as they were in the Bible itself. Christians, hungry to understand the Word of God as Jesus saw it, may find Pirkei Avot to be a wellspring of knowledge.

Pirkei Avot focuses on three areas: personal ethics, social conduct, and the importance of Torah study. The hundreds of lessons that can be gleaned from its 115 or so mishnayot (plural for mishnah, a recording of oral traditions) cannot be covered in this article, so we will select one mishnah of each type.

Personal Ethics

Hillel [a leading rabbi from the first century AD] said: [Strive to] Be among the disciples of Aaron, [who] loves peace, and pursues peace, [who] loves [God’s] creations (people) and brings them close to the Torah (Chapter 1, Mishnah 12).

This mishnah is usually understood based on oral tradition. When Aaron, Moses’ brother, would see two people bickering, he would approach one privately and tell him that the other wanted to make amends but was embarrassed. He would then tell the other the same thing, bring them together, and help them back to harmony. This pursuit of peace is true activism, more than just a general “love” of peace. Such an activist stance cannot be sincere without a true love for all people, no matter what their personal relationship with God might be. His life instruction to His children is: Love people—full stop—and bring them closer, not in order to bring them closer.

Social Conduct

Beware of the authorities: they do not engender themselves to anyone except for their own personal gain. They seem to love people at times of their enjoyment, but do not stand by a person when he falls on hard times (Chapter 2, Mishnah 3).

This suggestion was written by Rabbi Gamliel III, the son of Rabbi Yehuda the Prince, who lived in the 2nd or 3rd century AD, not a radical anarchist from the Sixties! But teachings such as this abound in Jewish tradition as a built-in system of checks and balances against abuses of power by governments and politicians. Gamliel was the Nasi, the prince or president of the Jewish community at the time, as was his father in his time, so he actually was exhorting his people to view him critically as well. That being said, it is important to mention this mishnah as well:

Rabbi Hananya, the deputy High Priest, says: Pray for the wellbeing of the government, because would it not be for the fear [it instills in its citizenry], men would eat each other alive! (Chapter 3, Mishnah 2).

The Importance of Torah Study

Rabbi Meir says: Minimize your worldly endeavors and toil in the Torah, and be humble (lit.: low of spirit) before all men. And if you neglect the Torah, there are many others who neglect it just like you. But if you toiled in the Torah, He has great reward to give you (Chapter 4, Mishnah 12).

This succinct aphorism summarizes the foundation of the lifestyle of Jewish Torah scholars throughout history. Others may disagree with their conclusion, but these people have found the answer to life’s great riddle: What is the meaning of our short stay here on earth? For them, it is to study God’s Torah, the written and oral traditions given by God through His students to our very generation. There may be tremendous cultural icons that serve as heroes to emulate for Western man, but for Rabbi Meir and his students, they are all just people who neglect what counts. The true reward is reserved for those who focus on God’s Word.

Come and Partake

These are but a few morsels from the banquet of wisdom served to anyone who partakes from Pirkei Avot. Jewish tradition teaches that the Torah is sitting in a corner; everyone is invited to come and get it. As someone who is privileged to be a link in the great chain of Torah from Moses to my own young children and beyond, I am pleased to humbly serve you as a conduit of these words. I close with these words of Rabbi Tarfon:

You do not have to finish the job, but you are not free to neglect it either. If you learned a lot of Torah, you are given a great reward, and your Master is trustworthy to pay you the reward of your actions, and be certain: the reward for the righteous is in the World to Come (Chapter 2, Mishnah 21).

Editorial Note: Building friendships between Christians and Jews must be based on understanding and respect for each others’ traditions. In this article, the author introduces us to teachings of ancient Jewish sages whose words are still loved and revered today. Note that, in Judaism, “Torah” can refer to Genesis to Deuteronomy or all of the Hebrew Scriptures and even include oral tradition.

Gidon Ariel is a close friend of Bridges for Peace and a self-described “Christian–Jewish friendship cultivator.” He is the director of the Holy Land Bible Bee for Christians (www.holylandbiblebee.com) and the moderator of the fast-growing Facebook group “Jews Who Love Christians Who Love Jews (and the Christians Who Love Them).”

Source: By Gidon Ariel

Photo Credit: www.israelimages.com