Tractate Avot is unique within the Mishna and the Talmud. It does not address halakha, but is primarily a book of ethics and wisdom, guiding us in our behavior and inner attitudes. Avot was written for those of us who seek to go above and beyond our standard obligations and follow a more elevated path. It therefore constitutes our aspirations for improving our moral character by keeping its teachings front and center. This book might be the Sages' most personal work; its words of wisdom and ethics were hewn from the hearts of the Sages of Israel, and studying them illuminates the Sages' worldview and way of life. This commentary on Pirkei Avot opens the gate to a wondrous treasure of Jewish tradition, connecting our inner experience today to the world of the Sages.
