Ethics of The Fathers of Rabbi Nathan

Midrash Aggadah Ethics of The Fathers of Rabbi Nathan

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 19, 2025

Avot d'Rabbi Natan: One of the minor tractates in the Babylonian Talmud under the order of Nezikin. It serves as a kind of Braitot or Tosefta (supplementary teachings to the Mishnah) for the Mishnaic tractate 'Pirkei Avot'. Three different versions of this tractate exist: one is found in the Babylonian Talmud, the second is known as ADRN brought from the Land of Israel, and the third is the version used by French Jewish scholars. The latter is referenced in a commentary attributed to Rashi on 'Pirkei Avot' (Chapter 1, Mishna 5), particularly on the phrase "Do not talk excessively with a woman". The second version was printed together with the first by R' M.Z. Schechter (Vienna, 1887). The French version was printed from a Munich manuscript by RSHZ Teusick, titled 'Neva Shalom' (Munich, 1872). Another narrative from the French version of Avot d'Rabbi Natan was published by R' Chaim Meir Horowitz Levi in 'Beit Akeidot', booklet 1, page 34 (Piotrków Trybunalski, 1881), beginning with "When Vespasian came to Jerusalem...". This narrative is also found in the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) 'Ten Kings'. For more, see the entry 'Avot d'Rabbi Natan' in the 'Otzar Yisrael' encyclopedia, and in Schechter's introduction to the printed version of ADRN."

Themes

Wisdom Humor Holy Land

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