By Laura Seymour

Editor’s note

This summer, the Shabbat Lady is challenging your family to study the Talmudic tractate known as Pirke Avot, Chapters of the Sages. PirkeAvot is comprised of six chapters and more than 150 mishnayot, or teachings. With JCC summer camp keeping her busy for nine weeks, the Shabbat Lady has prepared a mishna for each week. Spend time each Shabbat talking about the mishnah using the questions below as a guide.

Begin by reading the words, then break down the parts — and trust that even young children can contribute meaningful thoughts to the discussion. Listening to one another is the beginning of learning.

Dear Families,

This mishnah is one of the best known, and we never stop learning from it. At camp, we even sing about it — thanks to a song by Debbie Friedman. No matter how many times we read this mishnah (or any mishnah), there is always something new to discover. That’s because we change each time we study and learn.

Hillel says:

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
And if I am only for myself, what am I?
And if not now, when? — Pirkei Avot 1:14

Questions to ask:

• What does it mean to “be for myself”? How do we take care of ourselves? Is it wrong to put yourself first? Why or why not?
• If we don’t take care of ourselves, no one else will — do you think that’s true? Who else might take care of us?
• Do you think parents should take care of their children first or themselves first? Why? Who should take care of parents?
• What’s wrong with being only for yourself? Why does Hillel ask, “What am I?” Does it mean you’re a bad person if you only care for yourself?
• Many interpretations say Hillel was talking about knowing who you are and becoming someone special. How do you become someone special?
• The final question is powerful on its own. What does “If not now, when?” mean to you?
• Why did Hillel put these three questions together? How do they relate to each other? What is the mishnah as a whole telling us about how we should live our lives?
• Many psychologists today believe Hillel understood what we need for emotional well-being. What do you think he’s teaching us about what really matters?
• How can you teach this mishnah to others?
• How can we apply this mishnah to our everyday lives?

Laura Seymour is Jewish experiential learning director and camp director emeritus at the Aaron Family JCC.