Derekh Eretz

Derekh Eretz represents a framework of ethical and social behavior emphasized in Rabbinic literature as essential for stable communal life. It includes manners, humility, respect for others, responsible speech, and practical wisdom needed for everyday interaction and is often presented as a prerequisite for learning and religious practice, stressing that moral conduct and social order form the foundation on which study and ritual depend. Derekh Eretz is also the title of minor Rabbinic tractates which collect teachings on proper behavior.