Pirkei Avos is the last tractate in Seder Nezikin. Most of the mishnayos deal with halacha. However, Pirkei Avos is unique because it gives us moral and ethical instruction. It teaches character development and imparts direction to that will help bring about a true tikkun olam.
Pirkei Avos has been a tool of inspiration and encouragement for our people in all generations. It has become a favorite, for its lessons are clear and concise. Often times the axioms cited in Pirkei Avos become popular sayings among the young and old alike.
These chapters can be understood on a number of different levels, which makes it appealing to the laymen and scholar alike.
Pirkei Avos also teaches us the importance of mesorah – tradition, from father to son, mother to daughter, dating back directly to Har Sinai. The perceptive words of Pirkei Avos make an indelible impression on the life of every one who learns them. It is amazing that no matter how many years we study the very same perakim, we always gain a new insight, a deeper understanding, another way to look at our world through the prism of our wise Sages. One cannot help but be changed for the better, after absorbing the timeless instruction of Pirkei Avos.
For that reason Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser has chosen the Pirkei Avos for our “Moment of Inspiration”. It is our hope that the words will truly inspire and motivate one in the spiritual quest to come closer to Hashem.
Jealousy
There are many aspects of being Jealous and they must be addressed carefully.
When one is unhappy with his own life, (career, wife, kids, car, house etc.)his eyes will wander and look at the lives of others.
We are so quick to judge everyone around us, because truthfully, the grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side. But we never really know the Tzaros of others, no matter how happy they may seem.
Chazal say that jealousy dries up the bones. A person can be so consumed in their jealousy of others that it can literally destroy everything that they have. Our sages tell us that when one is jealous they do not gain anything and will surely lose all that they have.
We must look at the positive things in our lives and appreciate the little details. when we focus on all the negative details in our lives. surely we want to live someone elses. However, it all depends on our perspective in life, we have to have emuna and bitachon in HKBH when things are going a little rough. We must also try to be truely happy for our friends when they are experiencing a simcha. We say in Shema: "Ve loh Sasurru achareim levavechem Veacharei Einechem....." "Do not let your eyes and hearts wander..." IF we appreciate the good that HKBH blesses us with, then our hearts and eyes won't desire what others have.
I hope this helped a little bit...
pirkie avos
I have been going to R'Goldwassers Shuir on Shabbos, I am so glad to have found out from this site about it! thank you for being mechazek the rabim-
pirkei avos
will this shiur be continuing in the fall?