Timeless Wisdom: A Daily Dose of Pirkei Avot
Welcome to our daily choose-your-own-adventure learning series powered by Pirkei Avot, a set of pithy sayings from our sages of old (Hebrew: Wisdom of the Ancestors).
Led by Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel, this mix of asynchronous readings, podcasts, teachings, live events and discussions allows you to learn one verse at a time, at your own pace.
This series is open to everyone, but only Central Members and Neighbors have access to engaging online platforms and can request a chevruta (partner). Learn more about how you can participate below.
Learn More About “A Daily Dose of Pirkei Avot”
How it works
Format
Every day, you’ll read a short verse from Pirkei Avot, each its own bite-sized lesson of Jewish wisdom. Throughout the week, you’ll think through the verses with family or friends, a chevruta we can assign you (should you wish and if you are a neighbor or member), or independently. At the end of each week, you can watch a recorded conversation from Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel and Rabbi Nicole Auerbach, where they unpack their experiences and the meanings they drew from the five verses that week. Roughly once a month, at the end of each chapter, you’ll have the opportunity to join the rabbis live on Zoom to discuss your favorite verses, learn about them more deeply, and ask questions about verses that spoke to you.
This format allows you to join the series for a flexible amount of time while choosing your own adventure by engaging with verses that may speak to your life and build your Jewish wisdom at the same time.
How you can join us
Three options
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Central Synagogue members are invited to join Central Square, an online platform, that will house the daily verses and peer-to-peer engagement about Pirkei Avot.
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Participants in the Central Synagogue Neighborhood can connect with one another through the Pirkei Avot group on Mighty Networks, where Rabbi Andrew Kaplan Mandel will post the daily verse.
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Or, you can follow along by reading a verse a day from your own copy of Pirkei Avot: A Social Justice Commentary, or access the verses for free on sefaria.org; note that the content is the same as the CCAR book, but the numbering system is different at times.
How to join Central Square
Instructions
- Visit Central Square and enter your email address
- Check your email for an invitation to join the community
- Follow the email directions to set up your username and password
- Request to join the Pirkei Avot group, featured at top of the welcome page
- Start reading and responding to Rabbi Mandel's posts each day
* For Central Members Only
* Tip: A desktop browser is recommended for your first login. Central Square is hosted by Mighty Networks. Download the Mighty Networks app to stay connected while on the go.