About Ethics of our Fathers

While counting the Omer, we too try to perfect our character. To assist in achieving this goal, we study Avot, the tractate which is devoted to piety, humility, kindness and ethics.

The teachings expressed in this tractate are the "father" to -- i.e. they must precede -- all other Torah teachings. "If there is no common decency, there is no Torah."

Greeting everyone with a smile, opening one's house to the poor, respecting peers, etc.--these may be difficult sometimes, considering that our fellows sometimes appear to be far from perfect, or even savory...

"The Hassids are the ones with the black coats..." "No, no. All the Orthodox have long black coats and beards. The Hassids are the ones with the wide-brimmed hats." "No, they all wear the hats..."