Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) is a great school of wisdom and moral life written by a Jerusalem teacher. It is deuterocanonical, and the Church used it much in catechesis, hence its Latin name.
Understand the message of Sirach, its historical setting and its place in the history of salvation.
Written shortly before the Maccabean crisis, when Greek culture attracted the young. Ben Sira defends Israel's wisdom, centred on God's Law.
His grandson translated it into Greek in Egypt and explains in a prologue why he did so.
The book of Jesus Ben Sira, with practical advice for family, social and religious life: friendship, speech, humility, work and honoring one's parents. It ends with a praise of Israel's ancestors.