Pirke Avot: A Modern Commentary on Jewish Ethics (Modern Commentary On) [Paperback]

Leonard Kravitz (Author), Kerry M. Olitzky (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Modern Commentary On | Publication Date: May 1, 1993

Rabbis, educators, and longtime colleagues, Kerry M. Olitzky and Leonard S. Kravitz have together produced a series of modern commentaries on fundamental Jewish texts. Each of these editions features a line-by-line translation coupled with the original text and commentary, breathing new life into traditional rabbinic readings. Each also contains essays and gleanings that draw upon the works of other scholars to better enhance the reader’s understanding of the subject. This series is a wonderful addition to your Jewish library, whether you are approaching the texts for the first time or the hundredth time. It is suited for both individual reflection and class study.

This edition of Pirke Avot presents a fresh, new approach to a Jewish classic. Along with traditional commentaries from Rashi and Maimonides, readers encounter the wisdom of Eugene Borowitz, Emil Fackenheim, Lawrence Kushner, Anne Roiphe, Judith Plaskow, Maurice Eisendrath, and many others.

Other works in the Kravitz and Olitzky modern commentary series:

- Shemonah Perakim: A Treatise on the Soul

- Kohelet: A Modern Commentary on Ecclesiastes

- Mishlei: A Modern Commentary on Proverbs

- Shir HaShirim: A Modern Commentary on the Song of Songs

- Ruth: A Modern Commentary

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Hebrew (translation)
Original Language: Hebrew

About the Author

Kerry M. Olitzky, D.H.L., is the executive director of the Jewish Outreach Institute. Dr. Olitzky was ordained a rabbi by Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, where he served the faculty and administration for fifteen years. In addition to the books he has co-authored with Dr. Kravitz, he is the author of numerous other books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 114 pages
• Publisher: Urj Press; 1st edition (May 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807404802
• ISBN-13: 978-0807404805
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,340 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #34 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Bible & Other Sacred Texts > Jewish Texts > Talmud

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Five-Star Text, Three-Star Commentary, August 18, 2002

By 

"krchicago" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pirke Avot: A Modern Commentary on Jewish Ethics (Modern Commentary On) (Paperback)

"Pirke Avot" (the "Chapter of the Fathers") is a tractate of the Mishnah that collects not laws but sayings of the tannaitic Rabbis, mostly concerning the virtues of Torah study and the proper conduct of scholars. It is one of the classics of rabbinic literature, included (in whole or in part) in most prayer books, and the source of many familiar sayings. The picture it presents of Torah study as a democratic ideal, available to all and instilling a generous humility and respect for others, is a goal we can still admire and aspire to.

The translation and commentary presented here is helpful but leaves something to be desired. Each passage of Avot is followed by a brief commentary, generally identifying the rabbis quoted, providing some quasi-historical background on them and their relationship to other quoted rabbis, clarifying obscure phrases and summarizing the thoughts of Rashi, Maimonides and Bartinoro on many of the passages. (The introduction might lead one to think that the commentary also summarizes "Avot de Rabbi Natan" and Yom Tov Lippman Heller's commentary, but I found only a few references to either of these works.) This commentary is very helpful for understanding the plain meaning of the text, but seldom goes beyond the plain meaning to explore the theological or ethical significance of the passage. (A few passages that make the Reform editors uncomfortable are noteable exceptions -- here the commentary notes that "we modern Jews" look at things differently. While I agree with the modern conclusions, I found this condescending attitude annoying and unnecessary.)

Each chapter of Pirke Avot is followed by a section of brief essays (usually two or three paragraphs) by the editors on "salient themes." These often seemed more tangential than salient to me (a brief statement in Avot 3:1 that we return to dust leads to an essay on Jewish views on cremation), but they were interesting and provided further background on various aspects of traditional Jewish history, practice and thought. The brief essays are followed by section of somewhat longer "gleanings" from the works of various Reform or liberal Jewish thinkers. These tend to be quite tangential and are plainly intended to provide food for thought and discussion, not to answer questions. A few of them seemed more than a little out-dated, but in general the selection was interesting, if obviously slanted toward a Reform view of the world.

A final note on the translation, which is colloquial and inclusive. The former (particularly the use of contractions, which to my ear made too many passages sound like "don't be a don't bee") was irritating to me, but that's a matter of taste. The attempt to be inclusive (i.e., to use gender-neutral language), however, led on more than one occasion to translations that were so awkward they were a distraction ("everyone has one's moment"), which I find more difficult to forgive.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, May 27, 2009

By 

Awphyl in L.A. "Phyl" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Pirke Avot: A Modern Commentary on Jewish Ethics (Modern Commentary On) (Paperback)

Extremely readable version of Pirkei Avot. Used in a study group and it was very helpful.

12 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable book for any Judaic collection., April 28, 1998

By 

Harold L. Laroff - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pirke Avot: A Modern Commentary on Jewish Ethics (Modern Commentary On) (Paperback)

I have many different editions of Pirke Avot. I am, at this time, using this in a class I'm taking at our shul with the rabbi. The Kravitz/Orlitzky are very good.