<h2>Customs</h2><p><strong>Why are “Ethics of the Fathers” read on each Shabbat from Passover until Shavuot?</strong></p><p>We read one chapter of “Ethics of the Fathers” (Pirkei Avot) each Shabbat following the afternoon prayer because these are the days leading up to the Giving of the Torah and Pirkei Avot contain ethics and moral exhortations to help us improve ourselves so that we are worthy of the Torah. Many have the custom to continue reading these chapters throughout the summer months until Rosh Hashana; summer is a time when people are prone to become more lax in their Jewish observance.</p>