Koren Pirkei Avot

by Marc Angel

The newest edition of the traditional Ethics of our Fathers features the Hebrew text aligned alongside the rich English translation of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The commentary by Rabbi Marc D. Angel includes ideas from traditional and contemporary thinkers and scholars, allowing the lessons of Pirkei Avot to resonate with readers of all levels of observance.

Genres: Judaism, Judaica, Jewish

175 pages, Hardcover

First published May 21, 2015

Reviews

[C. Varn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Koren Pirkei Avot is excellent in several ways: it has Koren's excellent binding and font selection, Rabbi Angel's commentary is clarifying and excellent in a way that is friendly to both Orthodox and non-Orthodox readers, and the notes break down phrases in both English and Hebrew in very clear English commentary. Rabbi Angel's commentary is relevant to both Jews and non-Jews and adds appropriate historical context to enrich the sages of Mishneh in a way that really opens up the text. An excellent text.

[ניקאָלע]

Read for class. Always a banger

[Justin Wheaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone delving into the Mishnah. Even if you are not Jewish, there is a lot of wisdom here.

[Troy Schwab]

Won't be adding a rating for this

The Pirkei Avot is a collection of sayings of Rabbis from the Mishnah, written around 200CE. A quick read that is a nice introduction to religious texts and jewish literature. I chose the Koren edition for the side by side translation and footnotes (that I didn't really read). I think that this will be a nice work to revisit over the years. My favorite selection if Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya, Chapter 3, section 22, comparing wisdom and deeds to the trees.

[Steve Hanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was struggling with something particularly difficult this quote led me to Pirkei Avot:

“It is not for you to complete the task, but neither are you free to stand aside from it.”

It immediately brought a sense of calm, purpose, and direction.

I greatly enjoyed this introduction (for me) to the ancient wisdom of Jewish sages and teachings. The commentary in this specific translation was very accessible, modern, and welcoming. I suspect it greatly enhanced my reading experience.

[Joshua Zeitlin]

I would recommend this for any Jew who wants to learn more about Jewish ethics and tradition. This was the first time I read Pirkei Avot in general, and Rabbi Angel's commentary is very appealing to someone who was raised pretty secular in the modern world. I don't know how many other commentaries on Mishna talk about Woody Allen.

[Daniel Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a lot of Jewish religious texts and this is probably my favourite. Lots of wisdom in here and relevant for modern times.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This morning I finished this short volume in time for a discussion with my study partner, in which we delved deeply into the millenia-old rabbinic ethical principles contained within — and found them stunningly relevant to the questions we have about our current time and place (i.e. the mass uprising for Black lives against institutionalized violence, and the transformation of society in response to the global pandemic): What is the relationship between study/theory and deeds/praxis, and how does it inform how we seek justice? Can our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds, and how does that affect our capacity for personal change? What is the right balance of spiritual and material pursuits, and how do we embody that in our day to day life? How do we think about wisdom, and how does that influence to whom and how we listen and who and how we counsel in our immediate community? What kind of worlds are possible with different conceptualizations of ownership or of reconciliation?

Some of our questions also emerged in response to the thoughtful commentary of R. Marc Angel, who offered many creative interpretations of the text, as well as helpful historical context: How do language and memory serve future generations, even in the face of societal collapse, be it the destruction of the Second Temple, the threat of fascism in modern times, or the growing storm of climate change?

Our discussion spiraled and expanded intertextually outward, in conversation with sources earlier in Jewish history (What can the Biblical concept of Jubilee offer us in our considerations surrounding reparations and the restructuring of our economic values?), sources later in Jewish history (How can we reconcile Maimonides' hierarchy of giving, which emphasizes anonymity and humility, with the desire to lead by the visible example of our good deeds?), and those transcending Jewish history (What parallels and contrasts to our tradition can we find when we learn from Indigenous decolonization efforts or Black liberation movements?).

I won't pretend to agree with every line in this book. In many ways it was only a jumping off point for these ideas. Yet in this moment, I feel a deep sense of gratitude to our ancestors for the many timeless pieces of wisdom offered, and for imparting us with such a beautifully generative approach to studying and expanding on them.

[Jack Goldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What more can you say a sagley masterwork in ethics

This book won’t make you a big fan of the Roman’s, the fact they killed some of the holiest of holiest people in such brutal ways is mind boggling.
This is filled with studies and extracts comparing their words to the awesomeness of Pirkei Avos, which excellent companions and words of holiness. Everything is clear and the translations are great of course.
This book should ABSOLUTELY be read by all, Jew or gentile there is nobody who can walk away from this book and not wanting to better themselves and this world.
There is much ground to cover and much to analyse and speak about, but I’ll just let this praise rest and sit here.

[The Jewish Book Council]

Review by Jessica Deutsch for the Jewish Book Council.

[Nechamah Goldfarb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent translation and wonderful, insightful, appropriate, spot-on commentaries.