At the heart of Judaism is an ethical imperative to live life from your true self, as the image and likeness of God. This imperative flowers in the words of the early Rabbis (250 BCE–250 CE), who captured God’s call to be holy in Pirke Avot, a collection of sayings on how best to live an ethical life. This engaging introduction to the wisdom sayings of the rabbinic sages puts you in direct conversation with them. With fresh, contemporary translation and commentary, Rabbi Rami Shapiro focuses on the central themes in this Jewish wisdom compendium—study, kindness, and compassion. He clarifies the rabbinic proverbs and parables in order to expose the ethical principles at their root.