This week’s idea on Mishna 6:2 is written by Judy Keiner, who had the good fortune to grow up in a Yiddish speaking household in the heart of the postwar East End of London, where she was given the priceless treasure of a Jewish upbringing by her Galitzianer refugee parents. She learnt modern Hebrew on a totally secular English Kibbutz and from her secular relatives in 1960s socialist Israel and was stunned to realize that this enabled her to understand most of the Siddur and the Machzorim as she began to return to Torah learning in the 1970s. She spent most of her professional life training teachers and helping schools, including Jewish schools, improve. She has recently been involved in analyzing the way the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is being taught in English schools. 🇮🇱 עם ישראל חי 🇮🇱

We are amazed at the journey we have been on together so far and feel privileged to be embarking on learning the final Perek in Mishna Avot with this dedicated group. This week’s idea on Mishna 6:1 is written by Libby Levey, co-founder of The Dee Pirkei Avot Project. Libby and Maia were childhood friends when Maia lived in London and stayed close since. Libby went on to co-found the project having been inspired by learning Pirkei Avot with the Dee family on a Friday night in their home. 🇮🇱 עם ישראל חי 🇮🇱

We are honoured that as always, Rabbi Leo Dee has written the idea for the final mishna of the Perek (5:23). As we enter into the final Perek of Pirkei Avos, we want to invite those who may not have participated in a while to use this as an opportunity to begin learning with us again. 🩵💙 🇮🇱 עם ישראל חי 🇮🇱

This week’s idea on Mishna 5:22 is written by Eliana Greenbaum. 🇮🇱 עם ישראל חי 🇮🇱

This week’s idea on Mishna 5:21 is written by Dalia Silverblatt. Dalia grew up as a close friend and neighbour of Maia Dee hy”d and she remembers how the Dee family always welcomed her warmly into their home. Dalia learnt for a year at MMY in Yerushalayim and now studies Medicine in Cambridge. She lives in Cambridge, with her husband Zak, where they support the Jewish student life in their work for Aish UK. 🇮🇱 עם ישראל חי 🇮🇱

This week’s idea on Mishna 5:20 is written by Quincy Barrett who studied in Yeshivat Orayta then did Sherut Leumi with the Ministry of Justice, and is currently reading Philosophy at Cambridge University. Quincy says, “Rabbi Dee came to speak to the Bochurim in Orayta multiple times since the incident. His ability to respond to pain with Torah and ethical reflection was inspiring. This project gives us the opportunity to reflect on the ethics of our tradition, signifying the transformation from pain to virtue.” 🇮🇱 עם ישראל חי 🇮🇱

We are honored that Dov Forman has written this week’s idea on Mishna (5:19). Dov is the great-grandson of Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert MBE Z”L and was in the same primary school class as Keren Dee in IJDS. Now in his penultimate year studying History at UCL, Dov works in the UK Parliament for the Shadow Justice Secretary. He uses social media to educate about the Holocaust, Judaism, and Israel and recently interviewed Rabbi Leo Dee to share his messages with his followers. 🇮🇱 עם ישראל חי 🇮🇱

This week’s idea on Mishna 5:18 by Channi Goldin from London. 🇮🇱 עם ישראל חי 🇮🇱

This week’s idea on Mishna 5:17 by Eliana Brodie. Eliana says, “Maia Dee and I were in primary school together. I remember Maia as a special friend, always so caring, bubbly and warm. I remember her family being kind and hospitable.” Eliana has just finished studying Law at Birmingham and will be doing her Masters degree this year. 🇮🇱 עם ישראל חי 🇮🇱