Mishna 1

Which is the right path for man to choose for himself? Whatever is harmonious for oneself and for mankind. Be as careful with a minor mitzvah as with a major one… Contemplate three things, and you will not come to the hands of transgression: Know what is ...

Rebbi [Yehudah HaNassi] would say: Which is the right path for man to choose for himself? Whatever is harmonious for the one who does it, and harmonious for mankind. (Ethics of Our Fathers 2:1)

In this class you will learn some historical context to the authoring of the mishnah and the meaning of the Sages teaching that one should lead a balanced lifestyle.

“Be as careful in minor commandments as of a major one” -- What defines larger or smaller commandments?

“Be as careful in minor commandments as of a major one” -- What does G-d judge us by: the actual achievements or the work and emotion that is put into performing the commandments?

Mishnah 2:1 “Contemplate these three things and you won’t come to the hands of transgression…” Without G-d our world is full of duality and dissonance. Surrendering to G-d’s will, allows us to avoid even the “hands” of transgression and to live at our hig...