Dear Friends, As we approach the Festival of Shavuot, I wanted once again to spend some time this week exploring teachings from the small section of the Mishnah known as Pirkei Avot. Tradition teaches that we read one chapter each week between Passover and Shavuot, and one particular teaching jumped out at me this year. Rabbi Nehorai taught: “הֱוֵי גוֹלֶה לִמְקוֹם תּוֹרָה”“Exile yourself to a place of learning.” I found myself struck by the fact that, instead of simply saying “Go study,” the rabbi chose the phrase “Exile yourself.” When we remain entirely surrounded by familiar assumptions, familiar people, [...]