Avot

Avot, meaning “fathers” in Hebrew, commonly refers to Pirkei Avot, the tractate of the Jewish Mishnah known in English as Ethics of the Fathers or Chapters of the Fathers. It is one of the most widely studied sections of Rabbinic literature and serves as a collection of ethical maxims and teachings attributed to the early Jewish sages.

Traditionally, Pirkei Avot is part of the Mishnah, the compiled Jewish oral law, and belongs to the Nezikin order. The text is commonly dated to the early Rabbinic period, with the compilation traditionally attributed to Rabbi Judah the Prince around the 2nd century CE, though its contents draw on earlier sayings from the Tannaitic era. The tractate is organized into six chapters, each presenting concise sayings, dialogues, and aphorisms that address themes such as study, character, humility, speech, wealth, and leadership.

Contents and themes. The maxim-rich chapters cover topics including the value of learning, ethical behavior, and the duties of students and teachers. Notable statements include the guiding question of wisdom and the famous principle that “the world stands on three things: Torah, avodah (service), and gemilut hasadim (acts of lovingkindness).” The work emphasizes practical ethics, self-improvement, and communal responsibility, often in terse, memorable form.

Influence and reception. Pirkei Avot has had enduring influence in Jewish thought and education, studied in yeshivot and among lay readers. It has been translated into numerous languages and commented upon by many scholars, including medieval and modern authorities. The tractate remains a central source for ethical reflection within Judaism.