The 5 Pairs of Rabbis (Zugot) in Pirkei Avot

The Zugot (“Pairs”) in Pirkei Avot were five successive pairs of Jewish scholars who served as the spiritual leaders of the Jewish people during the Second Temple period. Each pair consisted of a Nasi (president) and an Av Beit Din (head of court), who transmitted the oral tradition from teacher to student in an unbroken chain dating back to Moses, with each pair known for their distinctive ethical teachings and legal interpretations. In this series with Rabbi David Sedley explore the historical and legendary background of these rabbis, and discuss why Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi chose to include these successive generations and their teachings in his Mishna.