Weekly reading of Pirkei Avos

Pirkei Avos General Questions:

1. Why is it called Pirkei Avos, after the “fathers”?
2. Why does it appear in the order of the Mishnayous at the end of Seder Nezikin?
3. When do we read Pirkei Avos?
4. What is special about the time of day when it is said?
5. Why is only one chapter read per week?
6. Why does it start with discussing the mesora, tradition, and passing down of the Torah?
7. Why do we add the same introduction each week before reading the chapter?
8. Why do we end off each week with the end of the last part of Mishnayous Makos after reading the chapter?

Pirkei Avos General Answers:

1. “Avos” is a term used to describe something central and important. Like a father is the start of children so too Pirkei Avos is the start of mussar, learning ways to self-discipline.
2. The Ramban in his introduction explains that it comes in Seder Nezikin that involves Dayonim, Judges. This is why you will find lots of references throughout Pirkei Avos to laws concerning judges. It is because it is mainly focused at them since they are open to dealing with all types of people under difficult circumstances. However, Pirkei Avos still comes to speak to all people.
3. It is read after Shabbos Mincha during the summer, from Pesach until Sukkos.
5. On a simple level, the limit of one chapter is to give time to digest what it says as opposed to reading all the chapters together.
6. The Bartenura explains that other nations also have books that deal with disciplining character traits. How then is Pirkei Avos superior to theirs? The answer lies in that their source stems from the Torah that is traced all the way back to being given by Hashem to Moshe – not simply made up by people.
7. The introduction says that each Jew has a portion in Olam Habo. The Midrash Shmuel gives two explanations. This introduction is to remind us of the end goal. The person’s portion in Olam Habo, the goal, is determined by how they work on themselves in this world. Pirkei Avos then goes to tell a person what is needed to achieve this goal. Another answer is that it comes to remind a person not to despair. We say that each Jew automatically has a portion in the next world. Therefore whatever more a person then does will make it even better.