PREFACE . . . . . . . 7 INTRODUCTION Name . . . . . . 9 Purpose . . . . . . 11 Description . . . . . . 13 Contents . . . . . . 13 Language . . . . . . 15 Development of Abot . . . . 16 Abot in Liturgy . . . . . 19 Bibliography . . . . . 21 CHAPTER I . . . . . . 29 CHAPTER II . . . . . . 39 CHAPTER III . . . . . . 51 CHAPTER IV . . . . . . 64 CHAPTER V . . . . . . 75 CHAPTER VI . . . . . . 91 HEBREW TEXT (Appendix) . . . . 3-30 page - first line of that page 8 wisdom of the "Father"; that it may serve as an 10 and in French it is usually rendered _Chaptres_ or 12 line of continuous tradition is plainly seen in the 14 B. (1) Chapters I, 16-II, 4: Sayings of the men of 16 DEVELOPMENT OF ABOT (13) 18 having lived before the destruction of the second 20 all editions of the _Mishnah_ and the _Talmud_, but 22 _Gemara_ (Talmudical commentary) on the _Abot_, 24 (2) _An appendix to the Sayings of the 26 17. Jehudah Leb gordon, _Pirke Abot_, in _Siddur Bet 28 Chapitre des Pirke Abot_, in _Bibliotheque de 30 (6), and the elders to the prophets, and the proph- 32 of the Great Synagogue. He used to say, "Upon 34 bers of thy household, and engage not in much 36 12. Hillel and Shammai (29) received (the tradi- 38 18. Rabban Simeon, the son of Gamaliel (42), 40 against the loss it involves. Consider three things, 42 the day of thy death (12); judge not thy neighbor 44 for himself words of _Torah_ has acquired for him- 46 which is the good way to which a man should 48 the evil inclination (40), and hatred of his fellow- 50 also before whom thou toilest, and who thy Em- 52 2. R. Chanina, the Vice-High-Priest (5), said, 54 a table and have spoken there words of _Torah_, it is 56 8. R. Eleazar of Bertota (28) said, "Give unto 58 fanes things sacred, and despises the festivals, and 60 rampart around the _Torah;_ tithes are a safeguard 62 "Where there is no _Torah_, there are no manners; 64 CHAPTER IV 66 virtue is a virtue, and the recompense of a trans- 68 not alone, for none may judge alone save One; 70 home of the _Torah_ (30), and say not that the _Torah_ 72 learns as a child, what is it like? Like ink written 74 not thy imagination give thee hope that the grave 76 ten generations from Noah to Abraham, to make 78 nor was there ever found any disqualifying defect 80 and upon the last, last; regarding that which he 82 the conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles in each 84 love, too, passes away (45); but if it be not depend-