Chapters of the Fathers

by Samson Raphael Hirsch

The complete Hebrew text of Pirkei Avos with an English translation and Rabbi Hirsch's insightful commentary to illuminate the words of our Sages.

Genres: Jewish

120 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1979

About the author

Samson Raphael Hirsch (June 20, 1808 – December 31, 1888) was a German rabbi best known as the intellectual founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism. Occasionally termed neo-Orthodoxy, his philosophy, together with that of Azriel Hildesheimer, has had a considerable influence on the development of Orthodox Judaism.

Hirsch was rabbi in Oldenburg, Emden, was subsequently appointed chief rabbi of Moravia, and from 1851 until his death led the secessionist Orthodox community in Frankfurt am Main. He wrote a number of influential books, and for a number of years published the monthly journal Jeschurun, in which he outlined his philosophy of Judaism. He was a vocal opponent of Reform Judaism and similarly opposed early forms of Conservative Judaism.

Reviews

[Courtney Ferriter]

I'm not going to rate this title, as it's a Jewish religious text, which feels to me a bit like asking "How many stars would you give the bible?" (an objectively nonsensical question). That being said, I am very glad that I finally read Pirkei Avot and found that it was nourishing to my soul as I reflected on how often my own practice of Judaism doesn't live up to the moral and ethical precepts of my religious tradition. Even if no one person could ever embody all of the ideals found in Pirkei Avot, it doesn't mean that they aren't worth learning and striving toward. This book gave me a lot to think about. I would recommend this translation and commentary.