In the past, I would post only book reviews pertinent to worship, music in the local church, or general Christian leadership and discipleship. Recently, I've been studying many more general topics as well, such as history, economics and scientific thought, some of which end up as reviews here as well.
Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 11:44PM 
“Ethics of the Sages: Pirke Avot” is a collected, edited and commented book of wisdom sayings from Rabbinic Jewish leaders. This book starts off with detailed explanation of the texts, its origins, time frame and authorship. Some of the most surprising contents of this short volume actually appear in the biographical sketches of the Rabbis, where three of the Rabbis are said to have been visited bodily by the prophet Elijah, who acts like an angel delivering messages and help. Four others are said to have had experiences of entering heaven. Others endured death, some were saved from it and some had miraculous powers and encounters.
But the core of the book is the translated sayings of these Rabbi’s who are mentioned in the biographies. Much of the content reads like truncated proverbs, most times without the dichotomous nature of the Old testament book of Proverbs, such as this strong, yet terse passage :
The world rests on three things:
on wisdom,
on surrender,
on compassion.[1]
Ethics of the Sages: Pirke Avot is such a short book that themes are hard to come by, but one that is repeated with excellence is the theme of justice for the oppressed/poor. For example:
When called to judge, do not act as a lawyer; when listening to litigants, consider them both capable of guilt; when judgment is accepted, consider them both innocent.[2]
and
If the courts are weak, or if fruits of the Sabbatical year are not left to the poor, pestilence is the result.[3]
Generally speaking, the wisdom sayings show us a rawness that we don’t see in today’s culture. Everything is said quickly, without preface or qualification. Statements are made for clarity, not with concern to scoping or engaging the hearer. One of my favorite entries in the book was this quote on aging and a progression through life. I think I like it most because it represents insights into the culture of the authors and its appreciation for aging as a form of maturity, not a level of obsolescence as is so often done in modern times.
Marry at eighteen, and secure a career at twenty.
Full strength comes at thirty, but understanding waits until forty.
At fifty begin to counsel, and at sixty take your place as an elder.
Old age begins with seventy, but at eighty you still have power.
At ninety you bend with age, and at one hundred be as one dead, passing beyond the cares of this world.[4]
I enjoyed the book. I was surprised by the kind of experiential spirituality that is recorded for many of the sages, and I enjoyed the gritty reality that the wisdom sayings bring in their short, concise packaging.
Amazon Book Link : http://amzn.to/AbZhtm
Review by Kim Gentes
[1] Shapiro, Rabbi Rami . “Ethics of the Sages: Pirke Avot”. (Woodstock, VT: SkyLight Paths Publishing 2006), Kindle Edition. Location 671