Derech Chaim
The Maharal M'Prague's Explanations on Pirkei Avos
The class is taught by Rabbi Shaya Karlinsky, Dean of Darche Noam Institutions Yeshivat Darche Noam/Shapell's and Midreshet Rachel
for Women.
The following is Rabbi Karlinsky's introduction to the class:
This list has been conceived as an on-line shiur, to be "given"
once a week, explaining Pirkei Avot according to the interpretations of
the Maharal from Prague. While I am used to giving live, interactive
classes (I rarely "lecture," but read and explain the text while
soliciting ongoing feedback as the students participate in developing
the material), the nature of the electronic medium forces a serious
compromise on the format.
Due to my teaching style, I always appreciate feedback, comments
and questions, and will try to use them as the basis for future shiurim
as necessary. There are a number of themes that recur in the Maharal's
work, and over the coming months things that may not be clear the first
time around will become clearer, if you stick with it. It will be very
helpful if you can access the shiurim on the Introduction, as well as on
the first two or three Mishnayoth. These are available in the archives.
The material is not meant to be a "a quick read" but requires thought and
review. For those of you who have the time and ability, seeing the
sources quoted in their original form may provide another dimension of
understanding.
The beauty of the Maharal's approach is his precise textual
analysis of the words of the Rabbis, leading him to a deep
understanding of the hidden and eternal truths embedded in their words,
reaching the hidden dimensions of the Torah. We will try to convey
that unique combination through cyberspace.
In translating the text of each Mishna, we will not necessarily
follow the "standard" translation, but base our translation on the way
the Maharal understands the text. If you find differences between the
way I translate it and a) the way you understood it, b) the way the
Artscroll siddur translates it, or c) the way someone else taught it to
you, the source of the difference should become apparent as you study
the Maharal's interpretation.
My convention will be to provide loose translation of the text of
the Derech Chaim, following the way the Maharal writes it, so you can
follow in the original if you are so inclined. I may combine seemingly
repetitive sections, for ease of understanding. And occasionally, I
will skip sections, because a) it contains a digression that will not
be easily connected in written shiurim, b) of the difficulty of
rendering a section into English, or c) due to the Kabbalistic nature of
the section. Parenthetical phrases and paragraphs () will indicate my
explanations, interjections and elaborations on what the Maharal
himself has written. I will also try to provide the location for each
of the sources he brings.
One very important assumption that the Maharal posits in all
teachings of the Rabbis, and which is even more fundamental when
studying Pirkei Avoth. The Rabbis aren't giving us lessons on how to
win friends and influence people, or habits of effective people. These
are things we can figure out for ourselves [or have Dale Carnegie,
Stephen Covey, et al, help us with :-)]. The Rabbis are revealing to
us the inner essence of man, creation, and the way these interact. So
we shouldn't mistake Pirkei Avoth for a Rabbinical version of "Poor
Richard's Almanac." This perspective helps understand how and why the
Maharal goes below the surface of the text in trying to understand the
words of the authors of Pirkei Avoth.
What one finds in the Maharal's works is a deep respect for the
philosophical depth and textual integrity of the teachings of our
Rabbis. The final paragraph of his introduction to Derech Chaim sums
it up perfectly:
In assessing the accuracy of our interpretations of the Mishnayot,
one must examine them in depth, and not reach conclusions on the basis
of hasty first impressions. There is no doubt that the words of the
Rabbis are teachings of great depth, not having been said out of
personal opinion, "approximation" or simply their own intuition. Rather
every word reflects deep wisdom and truth, said with compelling
accuracy (known through transmission of Divine revelation) and they
require deep analysis and understanding, rather than superficial
reactions.
I hope everyone will find value in the ideas and in the approach
that will be presented.
Rabbi Shaya Karlinsky
Subscribe to Maharal and receive this class via e-
mail.
