HPLS Phonetic Transliterated Ethics of the Fathers

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F. Ephraim Linker
Hebrew Prayers Learning Series (HPLS)
Phonetic Transliterated Siddurim
(Jewish Prayer Books)

Ethics of the Fathers
(Pirkei-Avot)

Learn from the wisdom of our Fathers, HPLS's new publication

All six chapters of the Ethics of the Fathers (Pirkei-Avot) section of the Mishnah are presented in
HPLS Triple-Tier format. This sample is from Chapter 1.

Mishnah 14

Flowing-English translation:

He (Hillel) used to say:

If I am not for myself, who is for me?

If I am only for myself, what am I?

And if not now, when?

Ethics of the Fathers
(Pirkei-Avot) 305 pages
$19.95

Preface from the Publisher

The Hebrew title, Pirkei Avot, meaning Chapters of the Fathers, is one of the works of the Mishnah and deals with ethical and moral principles. The reader will find each passage of this siddur meaningful in today's world as in the day they were written.

The six chapters of the Ethics of the Fathers are traditionally studied every Sabbath afternoon during the period from Passover to Rosh Hashanah.

Each Mishnah in the HPLS Ethics of the Fathers is presented in the HPLS Phonetic-Transliterated three-tier format. As with all HPLS publications, the three-tier format provides a literal word for word English translation above the Hebrew word and the transliteration. In addition, a flowing-English translation is located on the opposite page(s); the flowing-English translation uses wording that is more relevant in order to enhance understanding. We did not find it necessary to provide commentary for any Mishnah.

The numbering of the Mishnah sections varies slightly between the numerous editions of the Ethics of the Fathers. The differences occur because of the combining of some sections. The numbering scheme used in the HPLS Ethics of the Fathers is the one most commonly used among all the editions. Most editions of the Ethics of the Fathers usually vary by no more than one or two Mishnah sections per Chapter, and are relatively easy to follow between versions.

The Chabad Lubavitch Siddur, however, combines many more verses of Mishnah. I provide a cross-reference so that anyone following the Chabad version can easily find the corresponding verse in the HPLS edition. I have referenced the latest version (2002 copyright, 2010 edition) of the Chabad Hebrew-English Tehilat Hashem Nusach HaAri Siddur.

I would like to thank my wife for her patient proofreading of the flowing-English text and her valuable suggestions and comments.

F. Ephraim Linker, January 10, 2013.

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