Gemara on Pirkei Avot

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Dear Rabbi Simon,
What tractates from the Talmud discuss the Mishna tractate of Avot?
Thanks,
Yisrael

Dear Yisrael,
Avot is a tractate (book) of the Mishna, in Seder Nezikin (Damages, laws generally governing interaction among people and society in general), which does not have Gemara associated with it. Individual mishnayot from Avot are quoted in various places in the Talmud, but not in a systematic or comprehensive way. However there are a great number of commentaries (ancient, medieval and modern—philosophical, Kabbalistic, Hassidic, etc) on Pirkei Avot, which is a wondrous repository of wisdom. Quite a few have been translated into English, and many original (or anthologised) commentaries have also been written and published in English, particularly in recent years. Rabbi Abraham Twerski, MD, Visions of the Fathers is one of my favorites. Irving Bunim, Ethics From Sinai, is a modern classic. Rabbi Berel Wein’s commentary is also outstanding.
Happy reading
Rabbi Rashi Simon

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Ask the Rabbi: Quinoa on Pesach
Dear Rabbi Simon,
Where do you stand on quinoa (and the kitniyot ban) for Pesach?
Many thanks,
Tzippy
***
Dear Tzippy,
In line with other American authorities, I am in favour of quinoa. Although I reject completely the voices (mostly from Israel) seeking to abolish the ban on kitniyot entirely, IMO we do not need to include in the prohibition pseudo-grains that were unknown in the Old World until modern times. Best to buy with a Pesach hechsher though, to be free of any possible wheat contamination.
Rabbi Rashi Simon
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