("Fathers"). Ninth tractate of Order Nezikin in the Mishnah, also known as Pirké Avot ("Chapters of the Fathers"). It is a collection of rabbinic sayings and maxims which emphasize the importance of wise counsel, Torah study, and religious observance in Jewish life. Avot is the only Mishnaic tractate with no halakhic or narrative content, and there is no Gemara amplifying it in the Talmud. Originally, it comprised five chapters, the first two of which build a "chain of tradition" extending from Moses to the men of the Great Assembly, from them to the schools of Hillel and Shammai, and finally down to Rabban Gamaliel (son of Judah Ha-Nasi, who compiled the Mishnah). About 40 tannaitic scholars are also named and quoted in chapters 3-4, but with only three exceptions all of the sayings in the fifth chapter are anonymous. Covering a period of some 500 years (from c. 300 BCE to c. 200 CE), Avot presents a wealth of Jewish ethical teachings and ideals, popularly entitled in English the "Ethics of the Fathers." Since Babylonian Jews adopted the custom of reading Pirké Avot between the festivals of Passover and Shavu'Ot, a sixth (post-Mishnaic) chapter was added for supplementary reading on the last Sabbath before Shavu'ot. Known as the Baraita de-Rabbi Meir, after the author of the first saying quoted, this additional chapter was actually entitled Kinyan Torah ("Acquisition of the Torah") because Torah study constitutes its central theme. In this amplified form, Avot was eventually incorporated in the prayer book during the gaonic era.
Sephardim read it (usually at home) from the Sabbath after Passover until the Sabbath preceding Shavu'ot; Ashkenazim complete three reading cycles of Avot in the synagogue, one chapter at a time being recited on Sabbath afternoons from Passover until the week before the New Year. Pirké Avot also gave rise to a minor talmudic tractate, Avot De-Rabbi Natan.
