Jessica Deutsch is a New York based artist. She earned her BFA in illustration at Parsons, & has also studied at Midreshet Harova & Bezalel Academy. She loves sharing her passion for Jewish spirituality through creative practices. Deutsch has worked with the New Shul, and was an artist in residence at the Brandeis Collegiate Institute.
In Pirke Avot: Timeless Wisdom for Modern Life, William Berkson provides a fresh, insightful, and exciting approach to this central and compelling classical Jewish ethical text. He, with the assistance of Menachem Fisch, provides a clear and comprehensible translation of the tractate, and his historical commentary draws insightfully on the sources of Jewish tradition for its explication of its sayings. Most significantly, Berkson brings the ideas found in Avot into conversation with a wide variety of philosophical, psychological, and religious perspectives so that the reader can drink deeply from the wellsprings of wisdom that Avot offers for contemporary persons – Jews and non-Jews alike. This book is a most important contribution to Jewish conversation in our time! "-- Rabbi David Ellenson, President Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religon
The sages of the Mishna lived through one of the greatest transitions of Jewish history: the destruction of the Temple and withdrawal of divine revelation. Assuming responsibility for the future of the Torah, the sages set about bringing it out of the Temple and into everyday life, determined to keep it alive in a world of change. In his commentary to Pirkei Avot, Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg mines the book for the religious and ethical wisdom, the humility and the courage, the staunch traditionalism and the bold innovation that guided the sages through this tempestuous era. Framed by thumbnail sketches of the lives and times of the sages, the book¿s line-by-line commentary offers an original reading of Pirkei Avot, applying its teachings to the questions and challenges of our rapidly changing world.
This exceptional translation of Pirke Avot (Pirkei Avot) features in full the chapters and sacred phrases by the Jewish forefathers. Pirke Avot or Pirkei Avot - in English 'Chapters of the Fathers' - is a collection of sayings and aphorisms dating from antiquity which teach the ethics and morality of the Jewish faith. Attributed to various sages of Judaism who taught between the 2nd century BCE to the 2nd century AD, this collection combines some of the finest and most salient phrases coined by the revered rabbis of old. Since the early Middle Ages, it has been customary in several Jewish traditions for adherents and aspiring rabbis to devote time studying and absorbing these ancient sayings. Many are characterised by a memorable brevity, for expressing in a couple of sentences what other teachers would find difficult to teach in several pages. The Jewish principles of kindness, self-respect and the respect of others are expounded upon with insightful detail.
Finally, a Pirkei Avot textbook for 6-8th grade students.Organized thematically, this text by noted educator and author Nachama Skolnik Moskowitz provides students with the opportunity to study a selection of essential rabbinic texts.The Hebrew of all texts is included with wonderful translations to encourage full student participation. The methodology stresses a cooperative chevruta learning style.A Bridge to Our Tradition looks at the Pirkei Avot text with three questions in mind: 1. What are the character traits that help define who we are as individuals?2. What are the ways we can interact positively with others?3. What are our responsibilities to improve the world?This approach helps students navigate the complicated journey of Jewish character development. In addition, they will learn the important task of asking questions of the text. With a complete copy of the text of Pirkei Avot and a glossary included, as well as an accompanying teacher's guide, this title is a new and indispensable addition to your curriculum.