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The wise essence of Pirke Avot—ancient maxims of Jewish wisdom.
Life can feel like a wild and unpredictable rush from one moment to the next, all within the equally wild and unpredictable reality of God. This is why living righteously is not about trying to escape from change. It is, instead, learning to live with constant change and return—without trying to control it. Great Jewish teachers have always understood this, and it is this that forms the heart of all Jewish ethics. We need to accept the fluidity of life; not look for workarounds; and act justly and compassionately, with full attention.
Through the voices of 65 ancient Jewish Sages, the ancient Jewish text known as Pirke Avot provides a treasury of insights for acting rightly and ethically. Pithy and wise, many of these insights continue to be considered profound, dangerous, or both by leaders in the religious and secular worlds. Wise Blasphemy explores all of this without scholarly fuss. It is a deeply practical interpretation (in Hebrew, a targum) from which these profound truths of the ancient Hebrew Sages emerge.
“Our wisest teachers are those who can draw on ancient wisdom and re-new it with new meaning. That is what Rami Shapiro has done by rereading, retranslating, and renewing Pirke Avot, which comes alive and glowing in his hands.” —Arthur Waskow, author of Down-to-Earth Judaism
“Rami Shapiro has searched within to find a contemporary language for the ancient rabbinic sages. Now once again we can hear their voices and take their wisdom to heart.” —Rodger Kamenetz, author of Seeing into the Life of Things
“Rami Shapiro revitalizes the timeless wisdom of the Pirkei Avot for the present age. One suggested use: read a section or two in the morning before looking at the news.” —Richard Smoley, author of Kabbalah: Treasure House of Secret Wisdom
Rabbi Rami Shapiro, PhD is an award-winning author of forty books on religion, spirituality, and recovery. He co–directs One River Foundation (oneriverfoundation.org) and is contributing editor for Spirituality & Health magazine where he writes the advice column “Roadside Assistance for the Spiritual Traveler.” His recent books including Judaism without Tribalism and Zen Mind Jewish Mind. Rami was the 2020 recipient of the Huston Smith Award for Excellence in Inter-Spiritual Education. He lives in Murfreesboro, TN.