Produced by Dan Dyckman
________________________ TRANSCRIBER'S COMMENTS
The source book for this e-text included an Introduction, Preface,and extensive footnotes. These are omitted in this text, whichconsists of only the translation of the Pirkei Avot. A full versionof this e-text may be found as a different entry in the GutenburgProject archives.
See the end of this e-text for Transcriber's Notes.
LIBRARY OF JEWISH CLASSICS-III.
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The Sayings of the
Jewish Fathers
[pirkei avot]
"PIRKE ABOT"
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Translated, with an
Introduction and Notes
BY
JOSEPH I. GORFINKLE, Ph.D.
Author of
"The Eight Chapters of Maimonides on Ethics"
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One of the following chapters is read on each Sabbath from theSabbath after Passover until the Sabbath before New Year.
All Israel have a portion in the world to come, and it is said, "Andthy people shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may beglorified."
1. Moses received the Torah from Sinai, and handed it down toJoshua, and Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the prophets, andthe prophets delivered it to the men of the Great Synagogue. Theysaid three things, "Be deliberate in judgment; raise up manydisciples; and make a fence about the Torah."
2. Simon, the Just, was of the last survivors of the Great Synagogue.He used to say, "Upon three things the world rests: upon the Torah,upon the Temple service, and upon the doing of acts of kindness."
3. Antigonus of Soko received (the tradition) from Simon, the Just.He used to say, "Be not like hirelings who work for their master forthe sake of receiving recompense; but be like servants who minister totheir master without any thought of receiving a reward; and let thefear of Heaven be upon you."
4. Jose, the son of Joezer, of Zeredah, and Jose, the son of Jochanan,of Jerusalem received (the tradition) from them. Jose, the son ofJoezer, of Zeredah said, "Let thy house be a meeting-place for thewise; cover thyself with the dust of their feet, and drink in theirwords with thirst."
5. Jose, the son of Jochanan, of Jerusalem said, "Let thy house beopen wide; let the poor be members of thy household, and engage not inmuch gossip with woman." This applies to one's own wife; how muchmore, then, to the wife of one's neighbor? Hence the sages say,"Whoso engages in much gossip with woman brings evil upon himself,neglects the study of the Torah, and will in the end inheritgehinnom."
6. Joshua, the son of Perachyah, and Nittai, the Arbelite, received(the tradition) from them. Joshua, the son of Perachyah, said,"Provide thyself with a teacher, and possess thyself of a companion;and judge every man in the scale of merit."
7. Nittai, the Arbelite, said, "Keep aloof from a bad neighbor;associate not with the wicked, and abandon not the bel