A review by A. Schreiber
Yated Ne'eman 11 Iyar 5767 / April 29, 2007
At the beginning of Pirkei Avos, with regard to the first Mishnah, the Bartenura points out the following fundamental instruction. He states that even though this particular tractate does not elaborate upon a specific mitzvah, per se; rather, it deals with values, behaviors, ethics, character traits – and that wise men from nations of the world have also authored texts dealing with these subjects – even so, an essential distinction must be made: the values and principles taught in Pirkei Avos emanate from Sinai and carry the same eternal value and spiritual importance as any other instruction transmitted as Torah Mi’Sinai.
It is this principle — that the teachings in Avos are “timeless” and address concerns of the neshomah – that lies at the heart of a refreshing new commentary on Pirkei Avos entitled RELEVANCE by Rabbi Dan Roth. On the other hand, the text is subtitled: Pirkei Avos for the Twenty-first Century — to indicate that the author’s words are “timely” and designed to address the unique questions and challenges we confront in our day and age — in our own here and now.
Indeed, both aspects are true: the teachings in Avos are timeless & timely — and all at the same time. In fact, the author states in his Preface that in his research he went to the Jewish National Library in Jerusalem to discover that there were at least 1,128 texts available on Pirkei Avos: ample proof of how this sacred text gets around.
And now there is one more.
In every day and age, the profound teachings of Avos are such that they can yield meanings and messages especially suited to a particular time and place. They only need the right teacher to uncover that meaning and frame it in a vocabulary conducive to the needs of a broad readership.
And Rabbi Dan Roth is certainly one of those teachers.
He has taken the concise teachings of Avos and provided a commentary that addresses a culture where the ever-advancing technologies of communication, information, and transportation continue to impact upon, and transform our daily lives, in ways we may not even be aware of. Perhaps now, more than ever, we need the grounding as well as the vision that such a sefer provides.
It should be pointed out, however, that RELEVANCE is not a comprehensive treatment of Pirkei Avos. Instead, Rabbi Roth has selected particular teachings from each Perek to comment upon. In brief, stimulating essays, he discusses a variety of essential concepts, issues, and ideas that play a critical yet practical role in our daily lives.
For example, based on the first Perek in Avos, the author provides a deeper perspective on how to view current events; he elaborates on the importance of chesed, and also discusses the nature of relationships — especially the importance of having a good friend and a meaningful connection with a Rav.
From the second Perek, Rabbi Roth delves into the significance of proper influences and training in early childhood.
In the third Perek, the author deals with the proper use of time, how not to embarrass others in everyday situations, the challenges and opportunities that technology affords, and the section concludes with an exceptionally pertinent discussion on ta’amei ha’mitzvos (understanding mitzvos) versus the performance of mitzvos.
When it comes to the fourth Perek, Rabbi Roth examines the test of materialism, the true meaning of wealth, genuine humility, kiddush HaShem as opposed to chilul HaShem, and the various downsides of being a “workaholic.”
Finally, in the fifth Perek, the author addresses the art of listening and speaking respectfully, actualizing our potential; he analyzes the various stages in life, and concludes with insights into the Torah’s eternal wisdom. As the author himself states: “While learning just a selection of the Mishnayos in Pirkei Avos we have been given a taste of the ‘d-chola ba’…that everything is dealt with in Torah: from how to acquire a friend to how to control anger, from how to view the process of aging to how we can learn from eagles and lions, from the right attitude to earning a livelihood to the right way to use MP3 recorders.”
After all is said and done, there is something in this sefer for everyone. From fundamental principles of faith and profound insights into Torah hashkofah, to the practical and far-reaching effects of properly greeting every person you meet, RELEVANCE reverberates with the Torah’s timeless teachings. It is also a great boon to this sefer that the author writes in a reader-friendly style that makes the vital contents of this book accessible to all. There are also extensive endnotes at the end of each chapter that cite and elaborate upon quoted source material; for Rabbi Roth’s sefer brings together the insights and perspectives of many great Sages, both classic and contemporary.
It’s especially appropriate to study Avos at this particular time of year, but RELEVANCE makes for relevant, informative, and inspiring reading — any time of year!
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