The purpose of this edition of The Book of Principles is to make the book accessible today, so that we can apply its wisdom in our own life decisions. Each principle is followed by a guide consisting of a commentary and discussion questions. The guide is designed to enrich the reader s personal encounter with the sages. Many of the principles touch on issues of perennial controversy, and I highlight the controversies to help the reader decide for himself or herself how much of each principle he or she wants to accept. The give and take of live discussion greatly helps to clarify and deepen our understanding of how best to apply the principles in our own lives.
Fathers here has a dual meaning.
It refers on one side to the sages whose sayings are collected here. It also likely refers to the sayings themselves. One meaning of avot is a set of basic concepts used to classify specific cases. The avot in this book are basic ethical concepts that can be applied to give us guidance in a myriad of life situations. Avot and the Bible .