Kritik der reinen Vernunft

by Leonard S. Kravitz (Editor, Translator), Kerry M. Olitzky (Editor, Translator)

This edition 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. Ideal for college and adult study.

Genres: Jewish, Judaism, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Religion

1 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1993

Reviews

[Margaret Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped my congregational study of Pirke Avot between Passover and Shavuot. We used it, together with an ArtScroll edition and an old (1962) translation by Hereford, a Christian theologian, published by Schocken. Using multiple commentaries simultaneously helped illustrate Pirke Avot when it talks about Elu v'elu, these and these are both the words of the living G-d. It worked to show how our own congregation embraces diversity. What we liked most about the Kravitz/Olitzky commentary was that it helped us put the various sayings into a historical context. For each contributor to Pirke Avot there was something about the life and times of the author. This helped our understanding tremendously. I liked the overviews on topics at the end of each chapter, which I read prior to each week. Those were harder to use in the big group but very valuable again for setting context. What was difficult was the numbering system. It did not match our main text as it appears in Siddur Sim Shalom. This fact is understandable since the numbering system was invented much later and so from time to time numbering does not agree. The most common example of that is the difference in numbering the 10 Commandments between Jews and Christians.

[Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Figured it was time to read this. Didn't realize how many famous quotes are from this. Kind of like the Jewish Shakespeare

[Jeanne Berrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this every year, again and again...

[a · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great edition for a general audience--from a Reform perspective, of course; here, the commentary is often used to support and explain Reform theology. For example, take Rabbi Hillel's famous saying, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And, if I am for myself alone, then what am I? And, if not now, when?" (1.14). This is a good example of a passage I would completely misunderstand without good commentary. Upon initial reading I took the first two sentences to be contradictory--so I am supposed to be for myself, but also not just for myself? Not particularly enlightening. Can this be all the chapter means? The readings of the classical commentators aren't particularly enlightening either. They generally think that the first clause refers to the performance of good deeds; the second clause means Jews must extend their good deeds beyond the Jewish community; and the third clause means the deeds are to be done in this world. All this makes sense enough but is not particularly insightful. It is not until we reach the comments of Abraham Geiger (1810-1874), the founding father of Reform Judaism, that the passage begins to open up. Geiger imagines each question as a response to another unwritten question, so that Hillel is effectively arguing for reform:

"Why should you want to make changes?"
"If I am not for myself, who will be for me?"
"So be it then. Keep it for yourself; you are free to see it so and to think and act accordingly. But why should you seek to come forth and make such changes for the entire community?"
"If I am only for myself, what am I?"
"Leave these things alone, my friend. You are too rash."
"If not now, when?"

A beautiful reading. And a demonstration of the immense value of the citational method of Rabbinic Judaism.

[James Kittredge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent modern commentary that is both intelligent and highly (re-)readable. It contains a wide variety of short essays and gleanings, as well as explication of some potentially challenging passages. Pirke Avot is pretty accessible by itself, as rabbinical literature goes, but I still found this commentary to be illuminating and to encourage reflection on a range of broadly applicable ethical issues. Orthodox Jews will likely find it far too halachically liberal for their taste, but fellow Reform folks will feel right at home.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hillel and Shammai were the last of the zugot, the "pairs." Hillel was president of the Sanhedrin and Shammai was the chief of the court of law. Both were Pharisees. The oral law was revealed to interpret and expand the oral law. The Group who conceived the oral law idea was called the Pharisees or the separatists. The were opposed by the Sadducees, who were priests of the institution of the Temple. When the Second Temple fell, the Sadducees were no more. The Pharisees created the institution of the synagogue and a new elite: the rabbis.

[Sylvia J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would have given it five stars but some of the translations are a bit different. It’s good to read this and then compare with the translations on Sefaria. I especially like the chart in the back of the book on the sages of the Pirkei Avot. This reading over the course of two years with a group, including my brother the rabbi, who also translated as we went along, has prepared me. I am now doing the Daf Yomi.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

💗💗💗

[Kevin K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read something from the Talmud to broaden my knowledge of Judaism and Hebrew. Pirke Avot seemed like a good choice; it's the most famous part of the Talmud, and often cited as a source of Jewish ethics. I chose this version because it has the Hebrew with vowel pointings, and modern introductory material and commentary. The commentary is written from the perspective of Reform Judaism.

Pirke Avot doesn't seem very suitable as a source of ethics for those outside of Judaism, but it does have inspirational and interesting passages. One famous line is Hillel's:

אם אין אני לי, מי לי ("If I am not for myself, then who will be for me?")

a popular choice these days for jewelry, tattoos, etc. The commentary introduces many of the famous sages of the Talmud, describing their fates during the various revolts against Rome in the first and second century. One thing I especially love — and it really shines out in Pirke Avot — is the Jewish emphasis on study as a form of religious devotion. An interesting side note: In Pirke Avot, the Hebrew word for "non-believer" is apikoros, a Greek loan-word deriving from the name of Epicurus, the philosopher!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pirkie Avot is like having an "Owners Manual" for life. A How-to for living a good Jewish life! A true Must Read!