Mishnah / Talmud

Midrash David is a fresh take on Pirke Avot, the Ethics of the Fathers, written by the grandson of the esteemed Rambam. As the inheritor of the “Nagid” title from his father, Rabbi Avraham ben HaRambam, Rabbenu David HaNagid provides readers with the historical context of the lives of the Sages who compiled Pirke Avot. Like his grandfather, he codifies topics elegantly; his clear, accessible ideas and life lessons provide a practical guide for readers seeking not only to understand Pirke Avot’s simplistic beauty but to apply its wisdom to their everyday lives.

Now available in English in a newly edited and meticulously researched translation, this magnificent work, written by a hacham from the ancient Andalusian-Spanish tradition, offers modern readers with a brand-new perspective on ancient wisdom steeped in timeless mesorah.

About the author:

Rabbi Yehoshua Berdugo was born in Miami, Florida, and studied under Rabbi Zweig at Yeshiva Ve Kollel Bet Moshe Haim. He received his semichah from the Av Bet Din, HaGeon Rabbi Eliyahu Ben Haim, and the Chief Rabbi of Montreal, Rabbi David Sabbah. He is currently pursuing his dayanut through Eretz Hemdah while translating and commenting on sefarim and bringing forgotten texts to the masses. He lives in Hollywood, Florida, with his wife and three children, and he works as the head of Theme Park and Experiential Development for Nickelodeon Universe and Dreamworks Waterpark. Learn More

“Like stars in the sky, the words of Chazal sometimes appear to be mere dots of light. It is only with a (mental) telescope that we begin to see how great they truly are.”

Rav Yisroel Salanter

Pirkei Avos is a treasure house of wisdom and insight, waiting for its doors to be unlocked and its messages understood. With a novel approach to examining the Mishnahs — one that is thoughtful yet leavened with humor — this slim volume offers the reader the opportunity to access those eternal lessons and to internalize them.

Enter the world of Pirkei Avos through these pages and discover the greatness of the “stars” and the brilliance of the “light”!

An alumnus of Lakewood’s Beth Medrash Govoha, Rabbi Yisroel Miller served thirty-four years in the rabbinate before his retirement in 2019. He is the author of six books. Learn More

Pirkei Avos is a treasure trove of timeless teachings from our Sages — teachings of mussar, character development, and advice for refining and honing the soul. What better way to appreciate these teachings than through the lens and perspective of our chassidic leaders?

In Maasei Avos, renowned author Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker has gathered stories, anecdotes, and parables from the the Berditchever, the Tiferes Shlomo, the Kotzker Rebbe, and many others. Using their words and insights, he illuminates the teachings of our sages in a style that is eminently down to earth...yet inspires us to reach for the heavens.

Once again, Rabbi Zwecker has opened the wondrous world of Chassidus to the English-speaking public. Enrich your understanding of Avos with this fundamental and profound work.

Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker is the founder and director of Machon Be’er Mayim Chaim Publishing, whose aim is to translate and make available the classics of Chassidus in English. To date, he has translated both Noam Elimelech and Kedushas Levi, as well as Returnity, a collection of essays on teshuvah from the chassidic rebbes. Learn More

We may enjoy it and be successful at it, but in an honest moment we can’t help but wonder what these seemingly unorganized and ambiguous details are really all about — and why its study is so central to Judaism.

This book will address these issues, as well as answer many other questions, including:

How does learning Gemara create a close relationship with Hashem?

What value is there in learning a gemara that doesn’t lead to immediate practical application?

How are we to understand the Sages’ interpretations that seemingly contradict the actual words of the Written Torah?

Why did Hashem give the Sages the power to decide what the halachah is in His Divine Torah?

Why Do I Need to Learn Gemara? will invigorate your enthusiasm for Gemara study, and open the way towards greater connection with Hashem. Read it, and finally understand what learning Gemara is all about!

About the Author

Chaim Rosenblatt was raised in Brooklyn, after which he attended yeshivah in Israel, eventually joining Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim. Since 2009, he has been teaching in Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh, sharing the fruits of his decade-long research into clarifying the foundations and fundamentals of emunah and avodas Hashem. He lives with his wife and family in Jerusalem. Learn More

A superb introduction to the Jewish Oral Law

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the workings of the Talmud. What did the Sages do when they found themselves without answers to halachic (legal) questions? What processes were used to discover the answers? Why did these processes sometimes lead to different conclusions? Rabbi Lampel examines these issues and provides intelligent answers to questions that beginners in Talmud study frequently wonder about. A fascinating perspective on the development of law in Talmudic times! Students of the Talmud love this book! Learn More