In this introductory class, I discuss the chain of transmission stated in the first chapter and a half of Pirkei Avot. Before we begin speaking about the zugot (pairs) of rabbis, I first want to address the following questions:
1.Why is Rabban Gamliel of Yavneh not mentioned at all in Avot?
2.Why does the mishna stop with “received” after Hillel and Shammai?
3.Why did the era of Zugot end with Hillel and Shammai?
4.Why is Pirkei Avot in Nezikin?