An Opportunity For a Wonderful Minhag

This was written the first week post-Pesach in 2020, year of COVID-19. For those looking for Divrei Torah on Shmini, you can find them here: http://arabbiwithoutacause.blogspot.com/p/vayikra.html
There is a single page dedicated to the thoughts I've had about Nadav and Avihu, whose deaths are presented in our parsha. 
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Pirkei Avos

by Rabbi Avi Billet

One of my most cherished memories of my camping days was Shabbos afternoons Pirkei Avos. There is a custom to read a new chapter of Pirkei Avos (Ethics of the Fathers) at Mincha time from Pesach until Shavuos, one chapter a week. 6 chapters, 6 weeks, simple enough. 

There is an extended version of this custom, to learn Pirkei Avos in this weekly fashion, a chapter a week, all the way until Rosh Hashana. Obviously camp followed this latter view, and so we had a session each week. Depending on if it was a rabbi or one of the counselors running the session would determine if we would be more learning focused or story focused, but the camp gave us the time to actually read through the chapter. 

I recall Artscroll’s youth edition of the Pirkei Avos, illustrated and explained, in a manner that was most relatable. While I don’t have a photographic memory, there are elements of recall which are quite vivid, and the images from that book sweep right back into my mind when revisiting Pirkei Avos. 

The last chapter of Pirkei Avos is not mishnayos. It is actually braysos – also Tannaitic statements. The fact that it was attached to Avos is instructive, but really put Avos on the map for this custom of reading it from Pesach until Shavuos. The last chapter focuses on “Kinyan Torah,” on the many ways that a person can best acquire Torah knowledge, and commit to Torah practices. As such, it is a most befitting chapter to study just before the holiday of Shavuos, the holiday of receiving the Torah. 

The notion behind repeating this practice for 4 cycles until Rosh Hashana is to help us get into a more proper frame of mind and behavior when contemplating Elul, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Teshuva. Pirkei Avos has simplicity in its instruction that even a child can relate to. Yet it also has great depth in it, which is why it has so much commentary on it, so much explanation attached to its profound lessons. 

Shammai Taught, “Make your Torah regular, say little and do much, and greet everyone with a pleasant countenance.” Was he saying to have a regular time for study? Was he saying to make Torah regulate your habits? Was he suggesting that instead of talking so much we should focus on tasks at hand, or make goals that should be met? Was he saying that the most important way to present ourselves to people was, first and foremost, looking pleasant and untroubled? (All of these are challenges!) 

Shimon taught, “I grew up amongst the scholars, and the most important trait I learned was silence. Discussion is not as important as action. One who talks too much brings on sin.” 

They’re not saying the same thing, but they are hinting at similar ideals of humility, of action speaking much louder than words, and of growing from the teachings of the scholars. 

Without our walks to and from shul, without our socializing, with davening taking much less time absent a minyan, our Shabbos certainly has much more time in it. Let us avail ourselves of the opportunity our isolation brings us, to take full advantage of the chance to study Pirkei Avos each week. If we keep it up, we will certainly be ready for Shavuos, and we will hopefully be ready for Rosh Hashana, with our middos improved, our respect for our fellow man elevated, and our relationship with God enhanced.