The Fifth Cup: A Symbol of Inquiry and Faith

A free, 6-part audio course Traditionally studied each week between Passover and Shavuot, Avot may be the most beloved tractate in the rabbinic cannon; but its purpose and teachings may also be misunderstood. In this new audio course from the Tikvah Fund, Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik provides learned insight into the unique lives and worldviews of the rabbinic sages featured in the tractate. He thereby shows how to understand Avot as what it really is: an intellectual history of Jewish minds that were often in debate, and who offered solutions to challenges in a post-Temple world that was in many ways not unlike our own. Episode 1: In this opening lecture, Rabbi Soloveichik introduces Tractate Avot, “the most beloved and most misunderstood book…in all of rabbinic literature.” Learn how the first chapter of this work embodies the history of Jewish theology and law from the end of the period of the prophets until today.